MIAMI (January 19, 2018) - The FIU men's basketball team returns to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for the second of two games that it will play during its short two-game home stretch, when it faces Charlotte on Jan. 20., Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on CUSA.tv with A.J. Ricketts calling the action. The Panthers look to snap a two-game losing streak against the 49ers, and to win their first game against Charlotte at home. FIU also looks to end its two-game skid.
 
Click here for complete FIU game notes.
Click here for complete Charlotte game notes.
 
Brian Beard, Jr. scored a team-high 16 points, dished out seven assists and had four rebounds and three steals on Thursday night in the Panthers' 64-54 loss to Old Dominion. Eric Lockett chipped in with 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
 
Beard, Jr. has taken over the team lead in scoring, averaging 15.4 points-per-game. Beard, Jr. leads five players in double figures in the scoring column for FIU, along with Trejon Jacob (15.2 ppg) and Eric Lockett (13.5 ppg) who 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 (through Jan. 18).
 
Also, on Saturday, 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. The event is the largest dessert festival of its kind in America.
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 8-11 overall, 2-4 C-USA
Last Game: L, 64-54 vs. Old Dominion, January 18, 2018
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994  
Career Record: 158-181/11th season
Record at FIU: 59-87/Fifth season
Top Players: Brian Beard, Jr. (15.4 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.2 spg) | Trejon Jacob (15.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
 
CHARLOTTE 49ERS
Record: 5-12 overall, 1-5 C-USA
Last Game: L, 75-64 at Florida Atlantic, January 13, 2018
Interim Head Coach: Houston Fancher
Alma Mater: Middle Tennessee, 1988
Career Record: 183-183/14th season
Record at school: 2-6/First season
Top Players: Jon Davis (15.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg) | Andrien White (14.3 ppg, 5.1 apg)
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA.tv
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)
Radio/Audio: FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: Charlotte leads series, 3-1
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, contact the FIU athletic ticket office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
SCOUTING CHARLOTTE
- Charlotte comes into Saturday's game with a 5-12 record and a 1-5 record in Conference USA ... The 49ers have dropped their last four games and six of their last seven contests.
 
- Jon Davis leads Charlotte in scoring, averaging 15.6 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 against Charlotte, FIU will head back to the Lone Star State for the second time in the last three weeks to take on Rice on Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. ET and North Texas on Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. ET.
 
- The Panthers return home on Feb. 1 to host Southern Miss, and on Feb. 3 to butt heads with Louisiana Tech ... Both games start 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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