MIAMI (December 19, 2017) – Trejon Jacob (Raleigh, North Carolina) scored an FIU arena-record 38 points and Brian Beard (Rancho Cucamonga, California) added 24 points to lead FIU past Florida Gulf Coast, 91-88, on Tuesday night at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

The Panthers (6-6) scored a season-high in points surpassing the 87 points that they scored in a win against South Alabama and a three-overtime loss against Elon earlier this season.

Jacob broke the FIU arena record set by former FIU guard Eric Nottage, who poured in 37 points against UAB last season.

FIU trailed 43-40 at halftime but in the final 20 minutes the Panthers went on a 16-3 run during a span of nearly five minutes midway through the second half. FGCU (7-6) was 1 of 7 from the field during that stretch. Jacob led the run scoring nine points.

FIU led 66-61 with 9:25 to go in the game and would never trail again on the night.

The three-pointer was Jacob's M.O. Tuesday night. The sophomore guard shot 7 of 11 from beyond the arc and was a sizzling 13 of 19 from the field overall.

Beard contributed as usual, knocking down 8 of 16 from the field, had six rebounds, seven assists and a team-leading five steals.

FIU shot 52 percent from the floor for the game and 47 percent from three-point territory. Besides its hot shooting from beyond the arc, the Panthers were helped by sloppy play from the Eagles. FGCU had 19 turnovers. FIU cashed in with 23 points off those FGCU miscues.

FIU returns to the hardwood Friday when it hosts Hartford at 7 p.m. from the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in its final non-conference game of the 2017-18 season.
 
2017-18 FIU MEN'S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
 
FIU "Panthers" vs. FLORIDA GULF COAST "Eagles"
FIU (6-6) 91, FGCU (7-6) 88
Tuesday, December 19, 2017, 7 p.m.
Ocean Bank Convocation Center, Miami, Fla. 

- Tonight's starters for FIU were: G Trejon Jacob, G Brian Beard, Jr., G Eric Lockett (Warner Robins, Georgia), F Hassan Hussein (Lorton, Virginia), C Jay Harvey (Chicago, Illinois) … The Panthers are 2-0 with this starting five.

- Jay Harvey earned his second career start tonight.

- G Trejon Jacob netted double-figures for the 10^th time this season with his career-high 38 points, with 21 coming in the second half.

- Jacob shot a blistering 68.4 percent (13-for-19) from the field for the game, including 7-for-11 from behind the three-point arc (63.6 percent).

- G Eric Lockett's 11 points marks his 11^th double-figure scoring game of the season and the 15^th of his career … Lockett has netted double figures in 13 of his last 15 games, dating back to the end 2016-17 season.

- G Brian Beard, Jr.'s 24 points marks his 10^th double-figure scoring performance of the season, and the 10^th-straight … He fell just four points shy of equaling his career-high of 28 points set at USF on Dec. 11.

- Beard, Jr. was also active in other areas on the floor, logging a career-high tying seven assists, six rebounds and five steals in 35 minutes of action.

- The Panthers also recorded 10 steals against the Eagles, which marks the fifth time this season that FIU has posted double-digit steals, and the second time in the past three games. 

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