Game Details
Old Dominion 64, FIU 54
FIU (8-11, 2-4 C-USA), ODU (14-4, 5-1 C-USA)
Miami, Florida | Ocean Bank Convocation Center
 
The Basics
- The FIU men's basketball team returned home looking to get back on the winning track and pick up some momentum as it gets close to hitting the midway point of the Conference USA schedule, but the Panthers knew that Thursday's contest would not be an easy task as they took the floor against one of the top teams in the league, Old Dominion. The Monarchs, winners of eight of their last nine games, showed just why they hold that distinction, handing FIU a 64-54 loss at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The loss drops the Panthers to 8-11 on the year and 2-4 in C-USA, Old Dominion improves to 14-4 and 5-1 in league play. 
 
- After both teams were deadlocked at 28-all at the break, the Monarchs came out in the second half and used a 20-6 run to start the stanza, breaking the game open and taking its biggest lead of the game, 48-34, with 9:23 left in the contest. The Panthers cut the Old Dominion lead to six, 50-44, by scoring 12 of the next 16 points, however that is as close as FIU got.  
 
- Brian Beard, Jr. (Rancho Cucamonga, California) led the Panthers with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and Eric Lockett (Warner Robins, Georgia) added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.
 
- On the night, FIU shot just 35.1 percent (20-for-57) from the field and 32.0 percent (8-for-25) from behind the three-point arc. The Panthers also shot a season-low 37.5 percent (6-for-16) from the free-throw line, their lowest percentage since hitting 33.3 percent in the 2014-15 season-opener against Florida College.    
 
The Turning Point
After the Panthers battled to a 28-28 tie at the half, the Monarchs took the upper hand at start the second 20 minutes, scoring 20 of the first 26 points of the half to take their biggest lead of the game.
 
Stat of the Game
Old Dominion shot just 33.3 percent (9-for-27) in the first half, however came out in the second hitting 54.2 percent (13-for-24) of its shots. In comparison, FIU hit 34.5 percent (10-for-29) in the first, however only improved slightly in the second, hitting 35.7 percent (10-for-28) from the floor.  
 
Notable
- Tonight's starters for FIU were: G Trejon Jacob (Raleigh, North Carolina), G Brian Beard, Jr., G Eric Lockett, F Hassan Hussein (Lorton, Virginia), and C Elhadji Dieng (Mbour, Senegal) … The Panthers are 4-10 with this starting five.

- G Brian Beard, Jr.'s 16 points marks his 17^th double-figure scoring performance of the season, and the 17^th-straight.

- G Eric Lockett's 10 points marks his 15th double-figure scoring game of the season and the 19th of his career … Lockett has netted double figures in 17 of his last 19 games, dating back to the end 2016-17 season.

- F Michael Douglas (Sachse, Texas) had nine points, one-point shy of recording his fifth double-figure scoring outing of the season … Douglas also shared team-high rebounding honors with eight. 

Up Next
Following its game with Old Dominion, the Panthers will host Charlotte on Jan. 20, beginning at 7 p.m. … When the 49ers visit 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.
  
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