MIAMI (January 17, 2018) - The FIU men's basketball team returns to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for the first of two games that will be played over three days, beginning on Jan. 18, when Old Dominion comes to Miami. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3 with A.J. Ricketts and Pete Pelegrin calling the action. FIU looks for its third win in its last six games.
 
Click here for complete FIU game notes.
 
Michael Douglas and Hassan Hussein each had career nights in FIU's 72-68 loss at UTEP on Jan. 13. Douglas recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, both career highs, while Hussein had a career-best 19 points and nine rebounds. Brian Beard, Jr. also added 13 points in the loss.
 
Trejon Jacob leads five players in double figures in the scoring column for FIU, averaging 15.6 points per game, while Brian Beard, Jr. (15.4 ppg) and Eric Lockett (13.7 ppg) are second and third, respectively. Willy Nunez, Jr. and Josh Stamps round out the double-digit scorers with a 12.7 and 12.0 point-per-game averages, respectively.
 
Beard, Jr. is still among the nation's leaders in steals-per-game, averaging 3.2 per-game, which is good enough for third in the nation.
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 8-10 overall, 2-3 C-USA
Last Game: L, 72-68 at UTEP, January 13, 2018
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994  
Career Record: 158-180/11th season
Record at FIU: 59-86/Fifth season
Top Players: Trejon Jacob (15.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg) | Brian Beard, Jr. (15.4 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.2 spg)
 
OLD DOMINION MONARCHS
Record: 13-4 overall, 4-1 C-USA
Last Game: W, 82-76 vs. Marshall, January 13, 2018
Head Coach: Jeff Jones
Alma Mater: Virginia, 1982
Career Record: 102-55/Fifth season
Record at school: 459-342/26th season
Top Players: B.J. Stith (15.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg) | Ahmad Caver (14.5 ppg, 6.3 apg)
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: ESPN3
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)
Pete Pelegrin (Color commentary)
Radio/Audio: FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: Old Dominion leads series, 4-0
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, contact the FIU athletic ticket office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
UPCOMING GAMENIGHT PROMOTIONS
- FIU will have two of their more popular promotions during the next two games against Old Dominion and Charlotte.
 
- On Jan. 18, against Old Dominion, the first 400 FIU students will receive a free Roary hat celebrating "Roary Day," honoring FIU's mascot.
 
- On Jan. 20, when Charlotte visits the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, FIU will feature its popular Dessert Wars on the main plaza from 5-7 p.m. ... Tickets to Dessert Wars are $20 - and includes game ticket - and allows dessert sampling from over 50 local vendors ... FIU's Dessert Wars is the largest dessert festival of its kind in America.  
 
- Also, the Jan. 18 game against Charlotte will feature the K9's In-Flight Frisbee Dog Entertainment Show at halftime.
 
SCOUTING OLD DOMINION
- Old Dominion, 13-4 overall and 4-1 in Conference USA, comes into Thursday's game as one of the top teams in the league ... The Monarchs, who are currently in third place behind Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky who are both 5-0 in C-USA, have won eight of their last nine games.
 
- B.J. Stith leads four players in double figures, averaging 15.4 points-per-game along with 5.9 rebounds-per-outing ... Ahmed Caver and Trey Porter are netting 14.5 and 13.1 points-per-outing, respectively ... Randy Haynes rounds out the double-figure scorers, netting 10.9 points-per-game ... Brandan Stith is pacing the Monarchs on the boards, grabbing 7.2 rebounds-per-game.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE MONARCHS
- Old Dominion holds a 4-0 series lead in all-time meetings with FIU ... All of the games have come while members of Conference USA ... The schools have met twice on each others home floor, with the Monarchs defeating the Panthers, 64-57, on Feb. 2, 2017 in Norfolk.
 
SCOUTING CHARLOTTE
- Charlotte comes into this week's games with a 5-11 record and a 1-4 record in Conference USA ... The 49ers have dropped their last three games and five of their last six contests.
 
- Jon Davis leads Charlotte in scoring, averaging 15.0 points-per-game, while Andrien White is a close second, netting 14.3 points-per-outing ... White also leads the 49ers on the glass, averaging 5.1 rebounds-per-game.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE 49ers
- FIU and Charlotte have met four times all-time, with all four meetings coming as members of Conference USA ... The 49ers hold a 3-1 series lead.
 
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Following its game with Old Dominion, the Panthers will host Charlotte on Jan. 20, beginning at 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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