MIAMI (November 26, 2017) – The FIU men's basketball team returns to the hardwood on Monday, Nov. 27, as the Panthers face 2017 Final Four participant South Carolina. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. and the contest will be televised live on CBS Sports Network with Brent Stover (play-by-play) and Bob Wenzel (color) calling the action. The game against the Gamecocks is the first of three-straight that FIU will play at home this weekend, followed by Florida National (Nov. 29, 7 p.m.) and South Alabama (Dec. 2, 7 p.m.). It's also the first of nine that the Panthers will play at home out of their next 11 games.
 
South Carolina head coach, FIU alum, and Miami native, Frank Martin ('93), returns to South Florida to face his alma mater for the first time on the Panthers' home floor. 
 
The Panthers get back to work after a seven-day layoff. FIU last played on Nov. 19, earning a 77-67 win over Concordia-St. Paul in the final game of the Black & Gold Shootout in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trejon Jacob led the Blue and Gold with a career-high 23 points, while Michael Douglas added a career-best 16 points.

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FIU PANTHERS
Record: 2-3, 0-0 C-USA
Last Game: W, 77-67 vs. Concordia-St. Paul, Nov. 19 2017
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994  
Career Record: 152-173/11th season
Record at FIU: 53-79/Fifth season
Top Players: Eric Lockett (16.4 ppg, 7.4 ppg) | Trejon Jacob (15.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
 
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS
Record: 4-1, 0-0 SEC
Last Game: W, 79-66 vs. Western Michigan, Nov. 19, 2017
Head Coach: Frank Martin
Alma Mater: FIU, 1993
Career Record: 217-129/11th season
Record at school: 100-75/Sixth season
Top Players: Chris Silva (11.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg) | Frank Booker (10.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg)
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CBS Sports Network
Brent Stover (Play-by-play)
Bob Wenzel (Color Commentator)
Radio/Audio: TBA
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: South Carolina leads series 3-0
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, contact the FIU athletic ticket office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
- South Carolina comes into tonight's game with FIU, boasting a 4-1 record, and winners of its last two-straight games ... The Gamecocks are receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
 
- South Carolina is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Puerto Rico Tipoff Tournament after defeating Western Michigan, 79-66 ... The victory was Head Coach Frank Martin's 100th career-coaching victory as Gamecocks coach ... Chris Silva and Wesley Myers each led the Gamecocks in scoring with 14 points apiece, while Frank Booker and Felipe Haase added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
- Tonight's game is the fifth game of six games - in their first seven outings - that the Gamecocks will play away from Columbia, South Carolina ... Following tonight's contest against FIU, South Carolina will face Temple at Madison Square Garden in New York, before finally returning home to face UMass on Dec. 2.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE GAMECOCKS
- The South Carolina game against FIU is the fourth meeting between the two schools with the Gamecocks holding a 3-0 series lead all-time, dating back to the inaugural meeting on Feb. 16, 1985
 
- All three of the previous games have been played in Columbia, South Carolina ... Last year, the then No. 20/23 Gamecocks handed the Panthers a 70-54 loss on Dec. 4, 2016.
 
FIU all-time against South Carolina:
2/16/85 - L, 110-72 - Away
11/24/13 - L, 84-72 - Away
12/4/16 - L, 70-54 - Away             
 
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- The Panthers will have a quick turnaround as they get back to work on Wednesday, Nov. 29 as Florida National visits the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff ... FIU will close out the week at home against South Alabama on Saturday, Dec. 2 (7 p.m.).
 
- Monday's game is the first of nine games that FIU will play at home over its next 11 games ... Following this week, the Panthers will hit the road for two-straight games against in-state foes, USF on Dec. 11 (7 p.m., ESPN3) and North Florida on Dec. 13 (7 p.m., ESPN3) ... FIU returns to Miami for a season-long six-game homestand, beginning on Dec. 16, against James Madison (Time TBA)
 
- The JMU game will be played at Barry University in Miami Shores, due to scheduling conflicts in the Ocean Bank Convocation Center that arose due to Hurricane Irma.
 
For ticket information or to purchase your tickets today, please visit FIUSports.com or call 305-FIU-GAME.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow @FIUHoops on Twitter, and "Like" FIU men's basketball on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/FIUMensBBall) for the latest Panther basketball news.

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