MIAMI (January 24, 2018) - The FIU men's basketball team returns to the Lone Star State for the second time in the past three weeks as it begins a weekend Conference USA road trip at Rice on Jan. 25 at Tudor Fieldhouse. Game time is slated for 8 p.m. ET and can be seen on CUSA.tv with J.P. Heath calling the action. After snapping a two-game skid on Thursday against Charlotte, the Panthers look for their second consecutive win and their third win in the last five games when they face the Owls.
 
Click here for complete FIU game notes.
 
Eric Lockett poured in a game-and-career-high 30 points, in 39 minutes of action on Thursday, in FIU's 79-59 win over Charlotte. Joining Lockett in double figures was Trejon Jacob and Michael Douglas with 16 points apiece, and Brian Beard, Jr. who netted 15 points in the win. Beard, Jr. leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 15.4 points-per-game. He leads five players in double figures in the scoring column for FIU, along with Trejon Jacob (15.2 ppg) and Eric Lockett (14.3 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-outing, which is good enough for third in the nation.
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 9-11 overall, 3-4 C-USA
Last Game: W, 79-59 vs. Charlotte, January 20, 2018
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994  
Career Record: 159-181/11th season
Record at FIU: 60-87/Fifth season
Top Players: Brian Beard, Jr. (15.4 ppg, 5.4 apg, 3.2 spg) | Trejon Jacob (15.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
 
RICE OWLS
Record: 4-16 overall, 1-6 C-USA
Last Game: L, 69-54 at Louisiana Tech, January 20, 2018
Head Coach: Scott Pera
Alma Mater: Penn State, 1989
Career Record: 1-6/First season
Record at school: Same
Top Players: Connor Cashaw (16.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) | Ako Adams (9.9 ppg, 3.2 apg)
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA.tv
J.P. Heath (Play-by-play)
Radio/Audio: FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: Series tied, 2-2
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, call the Rice athletic ticket office at 713-348-OWLS (6957)
 
SCOUTING RICE
- Rice comes into Thursday's game with a 4-16 record and a 1-6 mark in Conference USA ... The Owls have dropped their last three games and eight of their last nine outings ... Rice's lone C-USA victory came at the hands of Charlotte (73-64), FIU's opponent last Saturday.
 
- Connor Cashaw is Rice's only player averaging in double-figures in the scoring column, netting 16.1 points-per-game ... Two players, however, are just below double-digits in scoring ... Ako Adams and A.J. Lapray are averaging 9.9 and 9.1 points-per-outing, respectively ... Cashaw and Malik Osborne are grabbing a team-high 6.3 rebounds-per-game. 
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE OWLS
- Thursday's game marks just the fifth meeting between FIU and Rice all-time, with the series tied at 2-2 ... FIU is 1-1 at Tudor Fieldhouse.
 
- The Panthers and Owls will meet again on Feb. 24, in Miami.
 
SCOUTING NORTH TEXAS
- North Texas comes into the week with a 10-10 record and a 3-4 mark in Conference USA ... After winning nine of their first 15 games, the Mean Green have dropped four of their last five, and their last two games ... North Texas will face Florida Atlantic on Jan. 25, in Denton.
 
- Roosevelt Smart, one of the top five scorers in Conference USA, is averaging 19.5 points-per-game ... He is one of two active players on the roster in double figures, along with Ryan Woolridge (12.6 ppg) ... Shane Temara leads the Mean Green in rebounding, grabbing 6.0 rebounds-per-contest.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE MEAN GREEN
- FIU and North Texas have met 20 times previously, prior to this Saturday's upcoming game, with the Mean Green holding a 15-5 lead in the series, and a 3-1 mark as members of Conference USA ... North Texas holds a 12-4 record on FIU as Sun Belt members ... The Panthers defeated the Mean Green handily last year, 90-71, however dropped four games prior to that contest, and seven of their last nine.
 
- The Panthers and Mean Green have played three overtime games in the series, all coming in the first four meetings ... North Texas is 2-1 in overtime games against FIU.

- FIU and North Texas will meet again on Feb. 22, in Miami.
 
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Following its game against Rice, FIU will head to Denton, Texas, to face North Texas on Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. ET.
 
- The Panthers return home on Feb. 1, to host Southern Miss, and Louisiana Tech on Feb. 3 ... Both games start at 7 p.m.
 
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