JACKSONVILLE, Florida (December 12, 2017) - The FIU men's basketball team closes out its short two-game Sunshine State road trip on Dec. 13 as it heads north to Jacksonville to face North Florida. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Brent Martineau (Play-by-play) and Lee Moon, Jr. (Color commentary) calling the action.
 
The Panthers look for their second-straight win over the Ospreys after handing them a 78-54 setback last year in Miami, while also looking for its fourth-straight win for the first time since the 2015-16 season when they won four consecutive from Dec. 22, through Jan. 7. 
 
The game against the Ospreys is the second of two games that FIU will play on the road during an 11-game stretch that started on Nov. 27, against South Carolina. Following Wednesday's contest at North Florida, the Panthers will begin a season-long six-game stretch in Miami, beginning with James Madison on Dec. 16.
 
FIU is coming off a 65-53 win over USF on Monday night, in Tampa. Brian Beard, Jr. scored a career-high 26 points and Eric Lockett added 18 points and 11 rebounds.
 
GAME 10: FIU at NORTH FLORIDA
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 | 7 p.m.
UNF Arena | Jacksonville, Florida
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 5-4 overall
Last Game: W, 65-53 vs. USF, December 11, 2017
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994  
Career Record: 155-174/11th season
Record at FIU: 56-80/Fifth season
Top Players: Eric Lockett (17.4 ppg, 7.2 ppg), Trejon Jacob (14.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
 
NORTH FLORIDA OSPREYS
Record: 4-7 overall
Last Game: W, 101-89 vs. Florida A&M, December 11, 2017
Head Coach: Matthew Driscoll
Alma Mater: Slippery Rock, 1992
Career Record: 163-215/13th season
Record at school: 137-138/Ninth Season
Top Players: Ivan Gandia-Rosa (15.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Garrett Sams (12.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: ESPN3
Brent Martineau (Play-by-play)
Lee Moon, Jr. (Color commentary)
Radio/Audio: None
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: FIU leads 2-1*
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, contact the UNF athletic ticket office by calling 904-620-BIRD (2473)
 
*Two wins vacated due to NCAA sanctions (4-1)
 
SCOUTING NORTH FLORIDA
- North Florida is currently 4-7 on the year, following a 101-89 win over Florida A&M on Dec. 11, in Jacksonville ... The Ospreys have won their last three-straight games and four of its last five after starting the season 0-6.
 
- The Ospreys have been battle tested during their first 11 games of the season, taking on Michigan State, Michigan, VCU, Florida, and Miami, accounting for five of their seven losses.
 
- Ivan Gandia-Rosa leads three players in double figures in the scoring column, netting 15.3 points-per-game, while Grant Sams and JT Escobar are netting 12.9 and 12.5 points-per-outing, respectively ... Wajid Aminu, is just shy of scoring double figures, averaging 9.6 points-per-game to go along with a team-best 6.9 rebounds.
 
THE SERIES WITH THE OSPREYS
- Wednesday's game between FIU and North Florida will be the sixth meeting in the all-time series between the two schools ... The Panthers lead the series, 2-1, although the actual on-court record has the Panthers holding a 4-1 series lead ... FIU had two wins vacated - from the 2003-04 season and the 2005-06 season - due to NCAA sanctions ... The Panthers handed the Ospreys a 78-54 loss last season in Miami.
 
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Following Wednesday night's game at North Florida, FIU returns to Miami for a season-long six-game stretch, beginning on Dec. 16, against James Madison (7:30 p.m.).
 
- 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.
 
- Included in the upcoming six-game stretch in Miami will be FIU's first three Conference USA games of the season against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 30 (7 p.m.), Middle Tennessee on Jan. 4 (7 p.m.) and UAB on Jan. 6 (7 p.m.).

For ticket information or to purchase your tickets today, please visit FIUSports.com or call 305-FIU-GAME.

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