FIU Takes on LA Tech Looking to Make it Two-Straight
Coming off a 71-60 win at Rice on Thursday night, the FIU men's basketball team (9-7, 1-0 C-USA) travels to Ruston, La., to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (13-3, 1-0 C-USA) on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.
Senior
Tymell Murphy scored 20 of his 22 total points in the second half versus the Owls as FIU earned its first conference victory as a member of Conference USA.
Murphy led all players with 22 points and 15 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. The native of Brooklyn, N.Y., shot 9-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Murphy also added three assists and two blocks in 34 minutes of action. Also scoring in double-figures was redshirt junior
Dennis Mavin, who finished the night with 16 points and a career-high nine rebounds. The native of Gainesville, Fla., shot 6-of-12 from the floor and tied a career-high in assists (4).
The Panthers finished the night shooting 50.0 percent from the floor (26-of-52) and were 13-of-19 from the free-throw line. FIU out-rebounded the Owls, 37-34, as they out-scored Rice in the paint, 30-26. Defensively, the Panthers held Rice to 22-of-57 from the floor (38.6 percent) and 7-of-24 from beyond the arc (29.2 percent).
FIU comes into Saturday's contest averaging 71.2 points-per-game, while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and 32.3 percent from 3-point range. The Panthers are converting 67.7 percent of its attempts from the free-throw line. Defensively, FIU is allowing 70.2 points-per-game as the opposition is shooting 41.6 percent from the floor. The Panthers are out-rebounding their opponents 630-540, averaging 39.4 boards-per-contest.
Leading the Panthers in scoring is Murphy, who comes into Saturday's contest, averaging 16.4 points-per-game (No. 8 in the conference) on 61.8 percent shooting from the floor (No. 2 in the conference and No. 9 in the nation). The Brooklyn, N.Y., native is averaging 7.9 rebounds-per-contest (No. 8 in the conference). Leading the team in rebounding (9.9 rpg) is redshirt senior
Rakeem Buckles, who ranks No. 18 in the nation on the boards and is No. 17 in the conference in scoring.
FIU – Louisiana Tech Series History
Saturday's game between FIU and LA Tech will mark the seventh all-time meeting between the two teams.
       - The series history is tied at 3-3.
       - The last meeting between the two squads resulted in a 49-45 win for the Panthers on Feb. 25, 2001, in Ruston, La.
       - FIU owns a 2-1 mark versus LA Tech in Ruston, La.
       - FIU's largest margin of victory over the Bulldogs is eight (73-65) on Feb. 6, 1999.
       - FIU and LA Tech's previous six meetings were as members of the Sun Belt Conference.
       - FIU owns a 32-58 mark versus teams from the current C-USA.
       - FIU is 3-4 outside the state of Florida this season.
       - FIU is 3-3 in games played on Saturdays this season.
       - Head Coach
Anthony Evans has never faced the Bulldogs.
An FIU Victory Would....
       - Improve FIU's record to 10-7.
       - Give FIU a 2-0 record in conference play.
       - Improve FIU's record versus LA Tech to 4-3.
       - Give FIU a 4-3 record in road games in '13-'14.
       - Give FIU a record of 2-1 in the month of January.
       - Improve Head Coach
Anthony Evans' career record to 109-101.
       - Improve Coach Evans' record at FIU to 10-7.
       - Improve FIU to 33-58 all-time versus C-USA.
       - Give FIU its 386th win (actual on-court record).
       - Give FIU its 302nd Division I win (actual on-court record).
       - Improve FIU to 4-4 in games played outside the state of Florida this season.
       - Give FIU its second-straight victory.
Perfect From the Line
Freshman
Jason Boswell enters Saturday's game with a perfect shooting percentage from the free-throw line (27-of-27). Having made 27-straight free throws, the Bronx, N.Y., native owns the school record for consecutive free throws made.Â
First Conference Victory
On Thursday, Jan. 9, the FIU men's basketball program picked up its first conference win as a member of Conference USA with a 71-60 win at Rice. The Panthers enter Saturday's game at LA Tech looking to earn the team's second-straight league victory.
Mavin Ties School Record
During the Panthers 93-88 overtime loss at Florida A&M on Thursday, Jan. 2, redshirt junior
Dennis Mavin went 16-of-25 from the free-throw line. The 16 made free throws tied the FIU school record for free throws made in a single game (DeJuan Wright vs. South Alabama – Feb. 25, 2012), while the 25 free-throw attempts set the school record for free-throw attempts in a contest.
Lights Out
Senior
Tymell Murphy enters Saturday's game with LA Tech shooting 61.8 percent (102-of-165) from the floor which ranks No. 2 in the conference and No. 10 nationally. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native's 61.8 percent from the floor is the top shooting percentage by a Panther in a single season in FIU basketball history. For his career, Murphy is shooting 58.8 percent from the floor (298-of-507) good for No. 1 all-time at FIU.
Dynamic Duo
Seniors
Tymell Murphy and
Rakeem Buckles enter Saturday's game with LA Tech having combined for 50 blocked shots (25 – Buckles; 25 – Murphy). That is the most by any duo among all Conference USA teams. FIU currently ranks No. 4 in C-USA in total blocks (71). The two have also combined for a conference-best 285 rebounds (126 - Murphy; 159 - Buckles).
Career Blocks
Senior
Tymell Murphy enters Saturday's contest having recorded 61 career blocked shots. The total ranks No. 8 all-time in FIU history. Murphy is two blocks shy of tying Brandon Moore (2010-2012) at No. 7 (63).
Buckles Taking Care of the Boards
Redshirt senior
Rakeem Buckles registered a career-high 17 rebounds versus Georgia State on Saturday, Nov. 30. The Miami native's season total for rebounds is 159, good for No. 1 in the conference and No. 9 in the nation.
A Little Thievery
Redshirt junior
Dennis Mavin enters Saturday's game as the team's leader in steals with 25. Mavin is averaging 1.6 steals-per-game (No. 6 in the conference) and has recorded a career-high four steals three times this season. His 25 steals are a career-best for steals in a single season.
Cleaning the Glass
Through 16 games this season, FIU has held a decisive advantage on the boards, out-rebounding the opposition, 630-540. Leading the way for FIU is redshirt senior
Rakeem Buckles, who is averaging 9.9 rebounds-per-contest. Following Buckles is senior
Tymell Murphy, who is grabbing 7.9 boards-per-game.
Raining Threes
Entering Saturday's game versus LA Tech, the FIU Panthers have converted at least one 3-point basket in 161-straight games, dating back to Dec. 20, 2008.
500 and counting
On Sunday, Nov. 10, senior
Tymell Murphy scored his 500th point as a member of the FIU men's basketball team during the squad's 66-58 win at Kennesaw State. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native enters Saturday's contest with 731-career points.
