MIAMI (December 1, 2017) – The FIU men's basketball team closes out its three-game homestand on Saturday, Dec. 2, when it welcomes former Sun Belt Conference rival South Alabama to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. The game against the Jaguars is the third of three games that FIU will play at home this week, and the third of nine games that the Panthers will play at home over an 11-game stretch.
FIU looks for its first back-to-back wins of the season and its first win over South Alabama since Feb. 25, 2012 (81-74 at home).
The Panthers get back on the hardwood following a convincing 79-61 win over Florida National on Nov. 29.
Eric Lockett led five players in double figures for FIU with a game-high 20 points, while
Willy Nunez, Jr. chipped in a career-high 19 points in the win.
Brian Beard, Jr. (15),
Trejon Jacob (11) and
Isaiah Banks (10) all found their way into the double-figure scoring column.
GAME EIGHT: FIU vs. SOUTH ALABAMA
Saturday, December 2, 2017 | 7 p.m.
Ocean Bank Convocation Center | Miami, Florida
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 3-4 overall
Last Game: W, 79-61 vs. Florida National, November 29, 2017
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994
Career Record: 153-174/11th season
Record at FIU: 54-80/Fifth season
Top Players: Eric Lockett (17.6 ppg, 7.0 ppg),
Trejon Jacob (14.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS
Record: 5-3 overall
Last Game: W, 69-58 vs. Southern Miss, November 29, 2017
Head Coach: Matthew Graves
Alma Mater: Butler, 1998
Career Record: 56-91/Fifth season
Record at school: Same
Top Players: Rodrick Sikes (16.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Josh Ajayi (11.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: None
Radio/Audio: None
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: South Alabama leads 20-10
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, contact the FIU athletic ticket office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
SCOUTING SOUTH ALABAMA
- South Alabama comes into Saturday's game with the Panthers boasting a 5-3 overall record and winners of its last two games, and four of their last five.
- Rodrick Sikes leads South Alabama in scoring, averaging 16 points-per-game ... Josh Ajayi is netting 11.9 points-per-contest and Jordan Andrews 10.4 points-per-outing on the year ... Ajayi and Trhae Mitchell lead the team on the glass grabbing 6.1 rebounds-per-game.
- The Jaguars are coming off a 69-58 win over FIU's fellow Conference USA foe, Southern Miss, on Nov. 29 in Mobile, Alabama ... Rodrick Sikes scored a game-high 20 points for South Alabama, while Herb McGee and Josh Ajayi chipped in with 18 and 13 points, respectively.
THE SERIES VS. THE JAGUARS
- South Alabama leads the all-time series against FIU with an actual on-court record of 20-10, however two Panthers' wins were vacated due to NCAA sanctions (20-8) ... The Jaguars and Panthers last met on Nov. 18, 2016, in Mobile, Alabama, with South Alabama coming out on top 69-64 in overtime ... USA has won 10 of its last 13 games against FIU.
- The two schools were longtime conference rivals from the 1998-99 season through the 2012-13 campaign when FIU left to become a member of Conference USA ... South Alabama posted a 16-8 record all-time in meetings as Sun Belt Conference foes.
- FIU is 5-9 all-time at home against the Jaguars.
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- FIU closes out their three-game homestand on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. when former Sun Belt Conference foe South Alabama visits the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
- Following Saturday's game against South Alabama, 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 home stand, 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.
Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
