GAME NINE: FGCU at FIU
Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, 3:30 p.m.
Lime Court at FIU Arena | Miami, Fla.
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 4-4, 0-0 C-USA
Last Game: L, 77-71 vs. Elon, December 4, 2015
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994 
Career Record: 134-131/ninth season
Record at FIU: 35-37/third season
 
FGCU EAGLES
Record: 4-4, 0-0 Atlantic Sun
Last Game: L, 75-65 at Texas A&M, December 2, 2015
Head Coach: Joe Dooley
Alma Mater: George Washington, 1988
Career Record: 105-80/seventh season
Record at school: 48-28/third season
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: American Sports Network (ASN)
Jeff McCarragher  (play-by-play)
Chris Walker (color)
Radio/Audio: FIU Sports Radio Network
Pete Pelegrin: (play-by-play)
Live Stats: FIUSports.com            
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263) Single game tickets are $10 in advance and $12 on game day.
 
QUICK HITS
- FIU closes out its four-game home stand on Sunday when it faces cross-state rival Florida Gulf Coast University at 3:30 p.m. ... The game will be televised live on the America Sports Network (ASN).
 
- The Panthers look to get back on the winning track after back-to-back losses to Stetson (81-75), on Nov. 30, and Elon (77-71) on Dec. 4.
 
- Adrian Diaz and Daviyon Draper continue to lead the Panthers in scoring, netting 15.4 and 15.1 points-per-game, respectively ... Diaz also paces the team on the glass, grabbing 9.4 rebounds-per-outing.
n Diaz leads Conference USA, and is No. 1 in NCAA Division I (through game of Dec. 4), in blocked shots per game, averaging 4.1 rejections-per-outing ... He also leads the nation in total blocked shots (33).
 
- Diaz comes into the game with FGCU just four points shy of 700 for his career, and two rebounds shy of his 400th career rebound spanning his time at Kansas State and FIU.
 
- Donte Mcgill is currently one of the hottest players on the team, averaging 20.3 points-per-game in his last three outings ... He has scored 20-plus points in two of his last three games, and in double figures in four of his last five.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
- FGCU comes into Sunday's game with a 4-4 record, following a 75-66 loss at Texas A&M on Dec. 2 ... It was the second Southeastern Conference opponent that the Eagles faced in a six-day stretch ... They also played at Florida in Gainesville on Nov. 27, losing to the Gators, 70-50 ... FGCU has dropped three-of-its last four games after starting the year, 3-1.
 
- Marc-Eddy Norelia leads the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.5 points- and 8.5 rebounds-per-game, respectively ... Christian Terrell is the only other player averaging double figures in the scoring column, netting 13.5 points-per-outing ... He is also grabbing 5.1 rebounds-per- game.
 
THE SERIES VS. FGCU
- Sunday's game between FIU and FGCU will be the eighth meeting all-time in the season series ... The Eagles lead the series 3-2, although the actual on court record has the Panthers holding a 4-3 edge ... FIU had two wins vacated - from the 2002-03 season and the 2003-04 season - due to NCAA sanctions.
 
FIU VS. THE ATLANTIC SUN
- FIU comes into Sunday's game boasting a 23-10 all-time record against members in the Atlantic Sun ... The Eagles are FIUs second most common opponent in the A-Sun, having played seven times ... The Panthers also faced A-Sun foe, Stetson, and will take on North Florida on Dec. 14.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS
- Following Sunday's game with FGCU, the Panthers will get a couple of days off before beginning a three-game road stretch at North Florida on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
 
- FIU is 1-0 all-time against UNF, despite having played the Osprey three times previously ... The Panthers' actual on-court record is 3-0, however, FIU had two wins vacated due to NCAA sanctions.
 
- FIU will then head on the road for on a two-game road trip, facing Northern Illinois (Dec. 19, 3 p.m.) and Binghamton (Dec. 22, 7 p.m.) during that stretch.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE PANTHERS
- FIU lost back-to-back games for the first time this season when it came out on the short end of a 77-71 decision against Elon on Dec. 4.
 
- The Panthers shot better than 50 percent for the second straight game, and for the third time this season ... FIU shot 50.9 percent (29-of-57) from the floor and 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from three-point range ... The Panthers found themselves down 36-31 at the half, with 30 of Elon's 36 points coming from behind the three-point arc.
 
- FIU lost the turnover battle, handing the ball over 16 times as opposed to just seven miscues by the Phoenix ... The Panthers' 16 turnovers would lead to 21 Elon points on the night.
 
- Donte Mcgill scored a career-high 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field, including 1-of-1 from three-point range, and 4-of-6 from the free-throw line ... He also led the team in rebounding - from the guard position - with eight boards ... Adrian Diaz was the Panthers' only other player in double figures with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field.