THE GAME: FIU returns to action on Feb. 21 for a 6:00 p.m. ET matchup with the North Texas Mean Green. The matchup between FIU and North Texas will mark the 18th all-time meeting between the two teams as the Mean Green leads the all-time series, 13-4. The last time these two teams met was Feb. 20, 2014, as FIU fell on a last second buzzer-beater, 65-63, despite coming back from a 10-plus point deficit with under two minutes to play in the game at FIU Arena. Tymell Murphy joined the 900-point club in the loss.
 

ROD"THREE"GUEZ MATCHES CAREER-HIGH WITH GAME-WINNING SHOT VERSUS RICE: Redshirt sophomore Ray Rodriguez matched his career-high in three pointers made, knocking down four against Rice on Thursday night on Lime Court at FIU Arena. Rodriguez hit two key three-pointers down the stretch for Panthers, the first to shrink the Rice lead to one and then the go-ahead three on the baseline with 22 seconds remaining. The Miami native's go-ahead three gave him four for the game, which matches his personal best which he also accomplished at Lipscomb on March 2, 2013 when Rodriguez played at North Florida.

LAST TIME OUT: With FIU trailing by one point and less than 25 seconds remaining, redshirt sophomore Ray Rodriguez drilled a three to put the Panthers ahead, eventually resulting in a 60-56 victory on Thursday night from Lime Court at FIU Arena. With the victory, FIU improved to 2-0 all-time against Rice. Rodriguez finished the game with 12 points, including four threes, and played with four fouls for the final 10 minutes. Senior Dennis Mavin led the Panthers in scoring, knocking down 19 points to go along with four assists and three rebounds in the win. Redshirt junior Adrian Diaz scored 12 points and added eight rebounds, while adding two blocks to extend his FIU season-record block total to 71. Senior Kris Gulley also contributed a strong effort for FIU, scoring 11 points and tallying seven rebounds.

SCOUTING NORTH TEXAS: North Texas enters Saturday's contest at Lime Court at FIU Arena with a 12-13 overall record and a 6-7 mark in Conference USA action. North Texas has won its last three games over UAB, Middle Tennessee, and FAU. Their last two games on the road resulted in a three-point win over the UAB Blazers Feb. 12. North Texas also managed to come back from a 21-point deficit to beat Middle Tennessee 56-57 on Feb. 14. Leading the way for the Mean Green is Jordan Williams who is averaging a team best of 15.6 points-per-game and 42 steals this season.  As a team North Texas averages 65.4 points-per-game while allowing an average of 68.9. 

NEXT UP: Following its matchup with the Mean Green, FIU will return to action on Feb. 26 for an 8:00 p.m. ET matchup at Marshall on the American Sports Network. The matchup between FIU and Marshall will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the two teams as the Thundering Herd leads the all-time series, 2-1. The last time these two teams met was Jan. 15, 2015, as FIU earned a 66-62 overtime victory on Lime Court at FIU Arena. Dennis Mavin paced the Panthers' offense with 19 points, including six-straight in the second half to help FIU erase an 18-point deficit.