MIAMI (January 3, 2018) - The FIU men's basketball team returns to the hardwood for its first game of 2018 as it faces Middle Tennessee on Thursday, Jan. 4. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on CUSA.tv with A.J. Ricketts calling the action. The game is the first of two over a three-day stretch to begin the first regular weekend of Conference USA play.
 
Thursday's game against the Blue Raiders is the second of three-straight C-USA games that FIU will play at home to begin league competition. The Panthers look to go 2-0 to start C-USA play for the first time since 2015-16 when they defeated FAU (76-59) and WKU (75-72) to begin league play. The Panthers hope to end a four-game losing streak against Middle Tennessee after being swept the previous two seasons.
 
The game against the Blue Raiders is the eighth of nine home games that FIU will play during an 11-game stretch that started on Nov. 27, against South Carolina. Following Thursday's contest the Panthers will take on UAB on Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. to close out the season-long six-game stretch.
 
Trejon Jacob led two players in double figures for the Panthers, with 17 points in its recent 58-57 win over FAU on Dec. 30. Brian Beard, Jr. added 16 points in the victory.
 
Jacob leads five players in double figures in the scoring column for FIU, averaging 16.5 points per game, while Brian Beard, Jr. (15.2 ppg) and Eric Lockett (14.9 ppg) are each netting right at 15 points-per-outing. Willy Nunez, Jr. and Josh Stamps round out the double-digit scorers with a 12.7 and 12.0 point-per-game averages, respectively.
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 7-7 overall, 1-0 C-USA
Last Game: W, 58-57 vs. Florida Atlantic, December 30, 2017
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994  
Career Record: 157-177/11th season
Record at FIU: 58-83/Fifth season
Top Players: Trejon Jacob (16.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Brian Beard, Jr. (15.2 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.5 spg)
 
MIDDLE TENESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
Record: 9-4 overall, 1-0 C-USA
Last Game: W, 63-60 at UAB, December 30, 2017
Head Coach: Kermit Davis
Alma Mater: Mississippi State, 1982
Career Record: 453-259/23rd season
Record at school: 316-184/16th season
Top Players: Nick King (23.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Giddy Potts (12.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) 
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA.tv
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)
Radio/Audio: FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: Middle Tennessee leads, 29-8
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, contact the FIU athletic ticket office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
SCOUTING MIDDLE TENNESSEE
- Middle Tennessee comes into its game with FIU with a 9-4 overall record, and a 1-0 record in Conference USA play following a close 63-60 win at UAB on Dec. 30 in its league opener ... The Blue Raiders snapped a two-game losing streak and have won only two of their last five games after starting the season 7-1 ... Those seven wins included victories over Vanderbilt (66-63) on Dec. 6, and Mississippi (77-58) on Dec. 9. 
 
- Nick King leads three players in double figures for MT, averaging 23.8 points-per-game and a team-high 7.1 rebounds-per-outing ... Giddy Potts and Brandon Walters round out the double-digit scorers, netting 12.8 and 10.8 points-per-game, respectively.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE BLUE RAIDERS
- The Blue Raiders hold a commanding 29-8 lead on FIU in the all-time series ... Middle Tennessee has won 14 of its last 16 games against the Panthers ... FIU last defeated Middle Tennessee, 59-54, on March 5, 2015 in Miami.
 
SCOUTING UAB
- UAB comes into this week's games with a 9-5 record and an 0-1 slate in Conference USA, following its 63-60 loss to Middle Tennessee on Dec. 30, in Birmingham ... The loss snapped the Blazers' four-game winning streak and is only their second setback in their last eight games.
 
- Chris Cokely (16.8 ppg) and Zack Bryant (13.7 ppg) are the only two players on the UAB roster averaging double figures, however five other players: Nate Darling (9.9 ppg), William Lee (9.5 ppg), Jalen Perry (9.3 ppg), Lewis Sullivan (8.4 ppg) and Nick Norton (8.2 ppg) are all averaging better than eight points-per-outing ... Cokely is also grabbing a team-high 9.4 rebounds-per-game this season.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE BLAZERS
- FIU comes into its game with UAB holding a slight 4-3 lead in the all-time series, dating back to the 2013-14 season ... The Panthers have won the last two games, and three of the last five.
 
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- The Panthers will close out their season-long six-game home stand on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m. when it faces UAB at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
For ticket information or to purchase your tickets today, please visit FIUSports.com or call 305-FIU-GAME.

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