MIAMI (Nov. 21, 2014) — For the first time since the 2002-03 season, the FIU men's basketball team (3-0) started its season with three-straight wins, as the Panthers handed the Florida Memorial Lions (0-2) a 74-48 loss on Friday night from FIU Arena.

Senior Dennis Mavin led the Panthers' offense with a team-high 19 points (8-of-14), while going 3-of-6 from the charity stripe. Redshirt junior Adrian Diaz knotted the first double-double of his career, posting 10 points and a game-high 11 boards, which is also career-high for the center. Redshirt sophomore Ray Rodriquez added 13 points (3-of-4) and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.

Florida Memorial was able to bring the score within two, 9-7, just before the 14-minute mark, but a drive to the basket by Mavin capped off two-straight scoring possessions for the Panthers, which forced Florida Memorial to use a timeout. Back-to-back treys by Rodriguez and junior Daviyon Draper gave the Panthers their then largest lead of the night before an 8-0 run over 1:41 saw the Panthers ahead by 13 points, 27-14 approaching six minutes. The Lions struggled to find any momentum through the final 10 minutes of the half, netting just five points, while FIU sank an addition 10 to take a 37-19 lead into the break.

Mavin paced FIU through the first 20 minutes with eight points, while senior Chris Gulley and Rodriguez added seven apiece. Diaz continued to be a presence under the net, pulling in a game high seven boards through the first half. As a team, the Panthers held the Lions to just 33 percent from the floor (6-of-18), and forced 11 turnovers. 

The Lions offense was able to get the deficit to within 12 points seven minutes into the second half, highlighted by converting on three consecutive field goals. Layups by Mavin and senior Marco Porcher Jimenez quickly got the Panthers' lead to 16 points, 48-32, with 13:45 to play. Off a timeout, sophomore Dominique Williams found an open lane for a score. Jimenez pushed the lead to 20 points off a turnover at mid-court, where Rodriguez scooped up the ball and dished to Jimenez for the layup. Mavin landed his second dunk of the night off the Lions' 20th turnover with 5:34 to play. The Gainesville, Fla., native then made it a 24-point Panther advantage on a basket assisted by Rodriguez. A late shot from beyond the arc by sophomore Jonas Page marked the first points of the Harrisburg, Va., native's season.

FIU finished the night shooting 53.3 percent (24-of-45) and held Florida Memorial to under 35 percent from the floor (16-of-46). The Panthers were able to force a season-high 21 turnovers, which resulted in 24 points. FIU's bench was able to provide depth, as it chipped in a season-high 26 points. 

The Panthers embark on a four-game road trip, which begins Monday at Georgia Southern. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET. 

Fans are encouraged to follow @FIUMensBBall on Twitter, and "Like" FIU men's basketball on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/FIUMensBBall) for the latest Panther basketball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member ofConference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.