MIAMI – FIU takes its show on the road for the first time during the 2018-19 campaign, this week, as it heads to New York City to take part in the Johnny Bach Classic at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, Nov. 16-18. The Panthers will open the three-day event against Fordham on Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. The game can be seen live on ESPN+.

FIU looks to improve to 4-0 to start the season for the first time since 2002-03. Those wins, however, were eventually vacated due to NCAA sanctions. Prior to the 2002-03 campaign, the Panthers last won four-straight to start the season during 1983-84 and have only done it officially two times entering this season (also in 1982-83).

GAME FOUR: FIU vs. FORDHAM
Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 | 6 p.m. | Rose Hill Gym | Bronx, New York | ESPN+

Click here to watch live on ESPN+
Click here for live stats

FIU PANTHERS | 3-0
Last Game: Nov. 13 vs. Milwaukee, W, 86-83
Next Game: Nov. 17 vs, Columbia, 6 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 3-0 (First season)
at FIU: Same

FORDHAM RAMS | 1-1
Last Game: Nov. 10 at Houston Baptist, L, 75-72
Next Game: Nov. 17 vs. Youngstown State, 3:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeff Neubauer
Alma Mater: LaSalle, 1993
Career Record: 229-190 (14th season)
at Fordham: 41-56 (Fourth season)

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: ESPN+
Gregg Caserta (Play-by-play)
TBA (Color)
Audio: WFUVSports.org
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: FIU leads series 4-1
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: Fordham Athletics Ticket Office 718-817-4759

QUICK HITS
- FIU hits the road for the first time during the 2018-19 campaign, to take part in the Johnny Bach Classic at Fordham University, Nov. 16-18 ... The Panthers open with the host Rams at 6 p.m. on Nov. 16.

- The meeting with the Rams is the first of five games that FIU will play on the road over its next six outings … Following his weekend, the Panthers will also play at Florida Gulf Coast (Nov. 28) and at Arkansas (Dec. 1).

- FIU comes into the contest against Fordham following an 86-83 win over Milwaukee on Nov. 13 ... Brian Beard, Jr. had 19 points, while Devon Andrews added 17 points and Osasumwen Osaghae had 10 points and 15 rebounds.

- FIU comes into the Fordham game averaging 104.3 points-per-contest in its three games this season, and have defeated its opponents by a margin of 33 points-per-game.

LAST TIME OUT
- Brian Beard, Jr. scored 19 points, and led five FIU players in double figures, but it was Osasumwen Osaghae who led the change 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.

- Osaghae, took over in the final 10 minutes 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, and putting FIU up three, for good.
- Joining Beard, Jr. and Osaghae in double figures was Devon Andrews with 17 points, Burwell with 12 points, and Willy Nunez, Jr. with 11 points ... Andrews also had a career-high six rebounds.

- FIU 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 continued to cause its opponents problems as the Panthers forced Milwaukee into 22 miscues on the night, leading to 17 points.

SCOUTING FORDHAM
- Fordham comes into Friday's meeting with FIU with a 1-1 record following its 75-72 loss at Houston Baptist on Nov. 10 ... Ty Perry led the way with a team-high 22 points while Nick Honor added 14 points in the loss ... Jessie Bunting and Chuba Ohams each grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

- Perry leads the Rams in scoring on the year, averaging 22 points-per-game, while Honor is second, netting 16 points-per-outing ... Ohams is tops on the team in rebounding, grabbing 5.5 per-contest.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE RAMS
- Friday's meeting with Fordham marks the sixth between the two schools dating back to the 1995-96 season, with FIU holding a 4-1 lead in the all-time series.

- The Rams and Panthers met for four-straight years, from 1995-96 through 1998-99 before not playing again for 10 years ... FIU's average margin of victory in the series has been 7.5 points-per-game.

THE JOHNNY BACH CLASSIC
- This weekend marks FIU's first extended road trip of the season when they take part in the Johnny Bach Classic, hosted by Fordham University, in the Bronx, New York, Nov. 16-18, at Rose Hill Gym ... During the three-day event, FIU will face the host Rams on Nov. 16, at 6 p.m., followed by Columbia on Nov. 17, at 6 p.m., and Youngstown State on Nov. 18, at 12 p.m.

- Following its game against Fordham on Friday, FIU and Columbia will meet for just the second time ... The inaugural meeting, coming on Dec. 27, 1995, at the Miami, Arena, saw the Panthers defeat the Lions, 82-67.

- The Panthers and Youngstown State will meet for the third time, with the Penguins holding a 2-0 series lead ... The two schools last met on Nov. 20, 2016 in Mobile, Alabama, at the Red Diamond Roundball Classic.

UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Following Friday's game with Fordham, FIU will butt heads with Columbia on Saturday at 6 p.m., during the second day of the Johnny Bach Classic ... The Panthers will close out the weekend on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 12 p.m. when it takes on Youngstown State.

- FIU returns home on Nov. 23, when it takes on Ave Maria at 5 p.m., before heading out for two on the road at Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 28 (7 p.m.), and at Arkansas on Dec. 1 (8 p.m. ET).

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