MIAMI – FIU men's basketball standout Brian Beard, Jr. (Rancho Cucamonga, California) has been named the Conference USA Player of the Week for the week ending, Nov. 18, the league office announced on Monday. It is the second such honor for Beard, Jr., who was a C-USA Third Team All-Conference and All-Defensive selection in 2017-18.
 
Beard, Jr. recorded a career week, last week, while helping FIU to a 3-1 record, including a 2-1 ledger at the Johnny Bach Classic at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. The California native averaged an impressive 25.8 points-per-game in the four games, to go along with 7.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 steals-per-outing for the Panthers, and also shot 48.3 percent (29-for-60) form the field. During the Johnny Bach Classic, Beard, Jr. averaged 28.0 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 steals-per-game.
 
Beard, Jr. poured in a career-high 36 points in FIU's win over Youngstown State, on Nov. 18, on 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the field, 40 percent (2-of-5) from three-point range, and 80 percent (16-for-20) from the charity stripe. His 16 made free-throws tied the school single-game record, dating back to Feb. 25, 2012. In addition, Beard, Jr. had seven assists and three steals against the Penguins. The night before, against Columbia, he recorded his second-career double-double with a 26-point and career-high 10-rebound effort to go along with six rebounds and three steals. He also scored 22 points in the tournament opener in addition to his team-high six rebounds, seven assists and six steals, and began the week with a 19-point night against Milwaukee.
 
Following a short break for Thanksgiving, the Panthers return to action at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Friday, Nov. 23, when it takes on Ave Maria at 5 p.m. FIU will then hit the road for two-straight at Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 28 (7:30 p.m.) and then at Arkansas on Dec. 1 (8 p.m. ET).
 
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