MIAMI (January 31, 2018) – The FIU men's basketball team returns to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for the first of two-straight games, beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, when the Panthers host Southern Miss in a crucial Conference USA contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on CUSA.tv with A.J. Ricketts calling the action. Thursday's game is the first of four games that the Panthers will play at home in their final nine games of the regular season.

Click here for complete FIU game notes.
 
Eric Lockett and Brian Beard, Jr. scored 26 and 22 points, respectively last Saturday, but North Texas pulled out a squeaker in the final seconds of overtime, defeating FIU, 69-67. Beard, Jr. and Jacob accounted for 48 of FIU's 67 points against the Mean Green.

Beard, Jr. leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 16.0 points-per-game. He leads five players - three active - in double figures in the scoring column for FIU, along with Trejon Jacob (15.0 ppg) and Eric Lockett (14.4 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 3.0 per-outing, which is good enough for fourth in the nation (through Jan. 30).
 
FIU PANTHERS
Record: 9-13 overall, 3-6 C-USA
Last Game: L, 69-67 (ot) at North Texas, January 27, 2018
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994  
Career Record: 159-183/11th season
Record at FIU: 60-89/Fifth season
Top Players: Brian Beard, Jr. (16.0 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.0 spg), Trejon Jacob (15.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
 
SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES
Record: 11-11, 4-5 C-USA
Last Game: L, 89-66 at Louisiana Tech, January 27, 2018
Head Coach: Doc Sadler
Alma Mater: Arkansas, 1982
Career Record: 180-181/12th season
Record at school: 31-74/Fourth season
Top Players: Tyree Griffin (16.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Cortez Edwards (15.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA.tv
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)                    
Radio/Audio: FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: Southern Miss leads series, 3-1
Twitter: @FIUHoops
Tickets: For ticket information, contact the FIU athletic ticket office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
SCOUTING SOUTHERN MISS
- Southern Miss comes into Thursday's game with an 11-11 record and a 4-5 mark in Conference USA ... The Golden Eagles have won two of their last three, however have dropped seven of their last 11 games after starting the season 7-4.
 
- Tyree Griffin leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.0 points-per-game, while Cortez Edwards is a close second in the scoring column, netting 15.7 points-per-contest and a team-high 6.2 rebounds-per-game ... Dominic Magee rounds out the double-figure scorers for the Golden Eagles, averaging 11.8 points-per-game and 6.0 rebounds-per-contest.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE GOLDEN EAGLES
- FIU and Southern Miss have met just four times all-time, with the Golden Eagles leading the series, 3-1 ... The Panthers' only win was a  73-71 decision in overtime on Feb. 12, 2015 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
 
SCOUTING LOUISIANA TECH
- LA Tech comes into this week's games with a 13-9 record and a 4-5 mark in Conference USA ... The Bulldogs have won three-straight and four of its last six contests ... LA Tech will play at Florida Atlantic on Feb. 1.
 
- Daquan Bracey leads the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 15.3 points-per-contest ... Jacobi Boykins is second in scoring, netting 14.9 points-per-contest, and leads the team in rebounding, grabbing 5.0 per-game.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST THE BULLDOGS
- LA Tech comes into its game with FIU holding a 6-4 advantage in the all-time series against the Panthers ... The Bulldogs hold a 3-1 advantage with both schools as members of Conference USA.
 
UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Following its game against Southern Miss, FIU will close out its two-game home stand on Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. when Louisiana Tech visits the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
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