DENTON, Texas (January 26, 2018) - The FIU men's basketball team closes out its second road trip to Texas in the past three weeks, on Saturday, Jan. 25, when the Panthers visit The Super Pit in Denton, Texas, to face North Texas. Game time is set for 6 p.m. ET and can be seen on CUSA.tv with Dave Barnett and Hank Dickenson calling the action. FIU looks to get its momentum back after a stretch where it won three-out-of-six games from Dec. 19 to Jan. 11. The Panthers have currently dropped three of their last four contests.

Click here for complete FIU game notes.

Brian Beard, Jr. and Trejon Jacob scored 22 points apiece on Thursday night, however, Rice still handed the Panthers a tough 73-64 loss at Tudor Fieldhouse. Beard, Jr. and Jacob accounted for 44 of FIU's 64 points against the Owls.

Beard, Jr. leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 15.7 points-per-game. He leads five players - three active - in double figures in the scoring column for FIU, along with Trejon Jacob (15.5 ppg) and Eric Lockett (13.9 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 3.1 per-outing, which is good enough for third in the nation (through Jan. 25).
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 9-12 overall, 3-5 C-USA
Last Game: L, 73-64 at Rice, January 25, 2018
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994  
Career Record: 159-182/11th season
Record at FIU: 60-88/Fifth season
Top Players: Brian Beard, Jr. (15.7 ppg, 5.4 apg, 3.1 spg) | Trejon Jacob (15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
 
NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN
Record: 11-10, 4-4 C-USA
Last Game: W, 59-53 vs. Florida Atlantic, January 25, 2018
Head Coach: Grant McCasland
Alma Mater: Baylor, 1999
Career Record: 31-22/Second season (DI)
Record at school: 11-10/First season
Top Players: Roosevelt Smart (18,7 ppg, 4.0 rpg) | Ryan Woolridge (12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg)
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA.tv
Dave Barnett (Play-by-play)
Hank Dickenson (Color commentary)
Radio/Audio: FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: North Texas leads series, 15-5
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, call the North Texas athletic ticket office at 940-565-2527
 
SCOUTING NORTH TEXAS
- North Texas comes into Saturday's game with an 11-10 record and a 4-4 mark in Conference USA ... After winning nine of their first 15 games, the Mean Green have dropped four of their last six, however they snapped a two-game losing skid with a 59-53 win over Florida Atlantic on Thursday.
 
- Roosevelt Smart, fourth in scoring in Conference USA, is averaging 18.7 points-per-game ... Ryan Woolridge is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.6 points-per-game ... Shane Temara leads the Mean Green in rebounding, grabbing 5.8 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, at 7 p.m. at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami.
 
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Following its game against North Texas, the Panthers will 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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