GAME 28: FIU at RICE
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 | 2 p.m. (ET)
Tudor Fieldhouse | Houston, Texas | American Sports Network
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 12-15, 6-8 C-USA
Last Game: L, 77-75 at North Texas, February 18, 2016
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994 
Career Record: 142-142/ninth season
Record at FIU: 43-48/third season
 
RICE OWLS
Record: 10-16, 5-8 C-USA
Last Game: W, 90-85 vs. Florida Atlantic, February 18, 2016
Head Coach: Mike Rhoades
Alma Mater: Lebanon Valley, 1995
Career Record: 219-112/12th season
Record at school: 22-36/Second season
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: American Sports Network
Brett Dolan (Play-by-play)
Ben Braun (Color analyst)
Radio/Audio: None
Live Stats: RiceOwls.com
Series: FIU leads series, 2-0
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information for the FIU at Rice game, contact the Rice athletics ticket office at 713-348-OWLS (6957).
 
QUICK HITS
- The FIU men's basketball team ends its two-game trip through Texas on Saturday, Feb. 20, when the Panthers face Rice ... Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. (ET) with the game being televised live on the American Sports Network (ASN) ... The Texas swing trip marks the first two games of three-straight on the road for the Panthers ... FIU will close out the three-game stretch at FAU on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. (ASN).
 
- The Panthers are coming off a tough 77-75 loss at North Texas on Thursday night, a game where FIU led by 12 points with just over six minutes remaining ... The setback was the Panthers' sixth in their last seven games and their third-straight loss on the road.
 
- Adrian Diaz led four FIU players in double figures with 23 points, to go along with eight rebounds and four blocked shots ...  Donte McGill added 21 points and Daviyon Draper logged his sixth double-double of the season with 13 point and 10 rebounds ... Elmo Stephen rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
 
- The Panthers are 12-15 on the year and 6-8 in Conference USA.
 
- McGill leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.0 points-per-game on the year, while Diaz is a close second, netting 15.8 points per outing ... Draper rounds out the double-digit scorers, averaging 15.5 points-per-contest.
 
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Following its game with North Texas, FIU will head to Houston where it will butt heads with Rice on Feb. 20 (2 p.m. ET) ... That game will be televised live on the American Sports Network.
 
- The Panthers' second swing trip of the season to Texas marks the first two games of a three-straight on the road ... FIU will travel to Florida Atlantic during that stretch to face the Owls on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. (ASN).
 
- The Panthers will return home on Thursday, March 3, at 7 p.m. when they meet UAB on Lime Court at FIU Arena, before welcoming Middle Tennessee to Miami on Saturday, March 5, at 6 p.m. to close out the regular season.
 
SCOUTING THE OWLS
- Rice enters Saturday's game with a 10-16 record and a 5-8 slate in Conference USA ... The Owls have won four of their last six games, however, have dropped 10 of their last 15 games ... Rice is coming off a 90-85 win over Florida Atlantic on Thursday in Houston ... The win was the Owls' second-straight ...  Marcus Evans led the way with a game-high 29 points, while Egor Koulechov chipped in with 19 points ... Andrew Drone and Marquez Letcher-Ellis added 14 and 10 points, respectively.
 
- Marcus Evans leads three players in double figures, averaging 20.1 points-per-game on the year, while Egor Koulechov and Marquez Letcher-Ellis are averaging 16.8 and 10.2 points-per-game, respectively this season ... Koulechov also paces the team on the glass, grabbing 7.0 rebounds-per outing.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST RICE
- Saturday's game marks just the third meeting between FIU and Rice all-time, with the Panthers holding a 2-0 series lead.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE PANTHERS
- The Panthers are coming off a tough 77-75 loss at North Texas on Thursday night, a game where FIU led by 12 points with just over six minutes remaining ... The setback was the Panthers' sixth in their last seven games and their third-straight loss on the road.
 
- Adrian Diaz led four FIU players in double figures with 23 points, to go along with eight rebounds and four blocked shots ...  Donte McGill added 21 points and Daviyon Draper logged his sixth double-double of the season with 13 point and 10 rebounds ... Elmo Stephen rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
 
- FIU shot 51.8 percent (29-of-56) from the field, including 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from behind the three-point arc ... It was the second-straight game, and the third game in the last four outings, that the Panthers have shot better than 50 percent from the field.