Game Details
FIU 86, Milwaukee 83
FIU (3-0), Milwaukee (0-3)
Miami, Florida | Ocean Bank Convocation Center
 
The Basics
- Brian Beard, Jr.  (Rancho Cucamonga, California) scored 19 points, and led five FIU players in double figures, but it was Osasumwen Osaghae (Miami, Florida) who led the charge down the stretch, ending with a career-high tying 10 points, and a career-best 15 rebounds, as the Panthers pulled out an 86-83 gut-check win over Milwaukee on Tuesday night at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. FIU improves to 3-0 on the year, marking the first time since the 2014-15 season that it started the year with three-straight victories. Milwaukee drops to 0-3 on the season.
 
- Osaghae also finished the game with four blocks to go along with his double-double, doing so in just 17 minutes of action. Beard, Jr. ended the night with seven assists and two steals.  
 
- With FIU up one, 68-67 with just under 10 minutes left in the game, Osaghae, took over scoring nine of his 10 points, grabbing six rebounds – including four on the offensive glass – and blocking two Milwaukee shots. None of those points down the stretch were bigger than the three-point play that he converted with 11 seconds remaining in the contest with the score tied at 83-all. Marcus Burwell (Richmond, Virginia) drove into the lane, on the right side, and found Osaghae who went up and was fouled, however still hit the layup. He then connected on the offering from the line to give the Panthers a three-point lead, 86-83. Milwaukee had one last opportunity, only to have its shot from three fall short.   
 
- Joining Beard, Jr. and Osaghae in double figures was Devon Andrews (Lorain, Ohio) with 17 points, Burwell with 12 points, and Willy Nunez, Jr. (Orlando, Florida) with 11 points. Andrews also had a career-high six rebounds.
 
- FIU trailed at the intermission, 50-44, however used a 15-4 run to take a 59-54 lead with 15:49 left in the contest, when Burwell hit the second end of two free throws. That five-point edge would be the largest lead by either team in the second half.
 
- The Panthers finished the night shooting 39.7 percent (29-of-73) from the field, and battled through Milwaukee's 45.7 percent (32-for-70) shooting on the night.
 
- FIU's defensive intensity continues to cause its opponents problems as the Panthers forced Milwaukee into 22 miscues on the night, leading to 17 points.
 
Stat of the Game
During the first half, FIU was outrebounded on the offensive glass, 10-7, leading to Milwaukee holding a 20-8 margin in second-chance points; a major factor why they the Panthers held a 50-44 edge at the break. However, in the second half, FIU turned the tides and grabbed six of the 11 offensive rebounds and only allowed four second chance points in the final stanza, while outscoring Milwaukee 42-33.  
 
Notable
- Tonight's starters for FIU were: G Trejon Jacob (Raleigh, North Carolina), G Brian Beard, Jr., G Marcus Burwell, F, Devon Andrews, and C Elhadji Dieng (Mbour, Senegal) … FIU is 3-0 with this lineup on the year.

- FIU's 86-83 win over Milwaukee marks the first victory for the Panthers in the five meetings between the two schools.

- Andrews' 17 points against Milwaukee marks his third double-figure scoring game of his short FIU career.

- Beard, Jr.'s 19 points marks his 31^st-career double figure scoring game.

- Beard. Jr.'s seven assists marks his 23^rd game of his FIU career dishing out five or more.

- Osasumwen Osaghae's career-high 15 rebounds surpasses his previous career-best of 12 set against Johnson & Wales in the Panthers' last game on Nov. 9 … It's also the most rebounds grabbed by an FIU player since Mike Kessens had 17 against South Alabama on Nov. 18, 2016.

- Osaghae's double-double was his second-straight.

- Willy Nunez, Jr.'s 11 points marks his fifth double-figure scoring performance in nine career games for the Panthers. 

Up Next
FIU will now head out on its first road trip of the season when it travels to the Big Apple to take part in the Johnny Bach Classic at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, Nov. 16-18. FIU opens the three-day event against the host Rams on Nov. 16, at 6 p.m., and will also face Columbia on Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. and Youngstown State on Nov. 18, at 12 p.m. FIU returns home on Nov. 23 when it takes on Ave Maria at 5 p.m.
 
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