MIAMI – FIU returns to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a short one-game homestand on Friday, Nov. 23, when it butts heads with Ave Maria University. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m.

FIU looks to improve to 6-1 to start the season for the first time since 1983-84 season. It would be a share of the best seven-game start for the Panthers in school history.

GAME SEVEN: FIU vs. AVE MARIA
Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 | 5 p.m. | Ocean Bank  Convocation Center | Miami, Florida | CUSA TV/FIUSports.com

Click here for complete FIU game notes
Click here to watch live on CUSA TV
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FIU PANTHERS | 5-1
Last Game: Nov. 18 vs. Youngstown State, W, 102-93
Next Game: Nov. 28 at Florida Gulf Coast, 7:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 5-1 (First season)
at FIU: Same

AVE MARIA GYRENES | 6-2
Last Game: Nov. 21 at Washington Adventist, L, 73-69
Next Game: Nov. 25 at Lynn (Exh.), 2 p.m.
Head Coach: John Lamanna
Alma Mater: Washington State, 2004
Career Record: 16-48 (Third season)
at Ave Maria: Same

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA TV/FIUSports.com
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)
Radio/Audio: None
Live Stats; FIUSports.com
Series: FIU leads series 1-0
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: FIU Athletics Ticket Office 305-FIU-GAME

QUICK HITS
- FIU returns home on Friday, Nov. 23, for its lone home contest during a six-game stretch, when it welcomes Ave Maria to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center ... Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m.

- The Panthers' 5-1 start equals their best six-game start in program history, joining the 1992-93 and 1984-85 teams that also dropped just one game during their first six outings.

- FIU comes into Friday's game off a 102-93 win over Youngstown State on Nov. 18, in the Johnny Bach Classic in the Bronx, New York ... Brian Beard, Jr. had a career-high 36 points and Devon Andrews, 18, in the win.

- FIU comes into the Ave Maria game averaging 98.3 points-per-contest in its six games this season, while allowing 79.5 ... The Panthers have defeated its opponents by a margin of 18.8 points-per-game.

LAST TIME OUT
- FIU won its second-straight game, and improved to 5-1 on the year, as it closed out the Johnny Bach Classic, at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, with a 102-93 victory on Nov. 18.

- Brian Beard, Jr. scored a career-high 36 points, while Devon Andrews added 18 points and Osasumwen Osaghae recorded a career-high 14 points in the win ... Beard, Jr. also dished out seven assists in the win and had three steals ... Andrews grabbed a team-high five rebounds.

- The Panthers trailed 48-44 at the break, but, for the second-straight game, came out in the second half and put up better than 50 points in the second stanza, outscoring the Penguins, 58-46, in the final 20 minutes ... FIU shot a season-best 53.8 percent (35-for-65) from the field, and a season-high 73.5 percent (25-for-34) from the free-throw line.

- The Panthers continue to create problems for their opponents on the defensive end forcing Youngstown State into 23 turnovers that led to 19 points.

SCOUTING AVE MARIA
- Ave Maria comes into its contest with FIU with a 6-2 record following back-to-back games at Christendom (W, 69-44) on Nov. 20, and Washington Adventist (L, 73-69) on Nov. 21.

- Leo Behrend leads the Gyrenes in scoring on the year, averaging 25.0 points-per-game, while Gianpaolo Riccio is second, netting 16.0 points-per-outing, and Romello Bates is third, averaging 12.8 points-per-game ... Behrend is tops on the team in rebounding, grabbing 10.3 boards-per-contest.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE GYRENES
- Friday's meeting with Ave Maria marks just the second meeting between the two schools, with the Panthers holding a 1-0 series lead ... The inaugural meeting came exactly two years ago, Nov. 23, 2016.

PANTHERS OFF TO A FAST START
- FIU's 5-1 start equals its best six-game start since the 1992-93 season when it also started 5-1 ... The Panthers also started 5-1 during the 1984-85 and 1983-84 campaigns.

DROPPIN' SOME' C-NOTES
- FIU's season-opening 110-84 win over Webber International on Nov. 7 … Prior to this season, the last time that an FIU team reached the 100-point mark in regulation was on Feb. 26, 1998, pouring in 101 points against Centenary in a 101-74 win in the TAAC Tournament ... That was the second of two-straight games where the Panthers scored 100-or-more points ... FIU also did it five days before in a 117-79 win over Troy on Feb. 21, 1998.

- FIU logged its third 100-plus-point game when it scored 102 points in a 102-93 win over Youngstown State on Nov. 18 ... That came one game after narrowly missing the century mark against Columbia in a 98-87 win on Nov. 17.

- The Panthers' three 100-point games mark the most since the 1988-89 season when they also had three ... The most 100-point outings in a season for FIU came during the 1997-98 campaign with seven, followed by five during the 1982-83 season.

BRIAN BEARD, JR. TABBED C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- Brian Beard, Jr. was named the Conference USA Player of the Week for the week ending, Nov. 18 ... It is the second such honor for Beard, Jr.

- Beard, Jr. recorded a career 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 ... He 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) from the field ... During the Johnny Bach Classic, Beard, Jr. averaged 28.0 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 steals-per-game.

UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Following Friday's game with Ave Maria, the Panthers will hit the road for two-straight, beginning on Nov. 28, at Florida Gulf Coast (7:30 p.m.), followed by a trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to take on Arkansas on Dec. 1 (8 p.m. ET).

- FIU returns home on Dec. 13, for the first of three-straight games against Florida foes, beginning with North Florida (7 p.m.) ... The Panthers will also face USF on Dec. 18, and Florida Memorial on Dec. 20 ... Both games will also be at 7 p.m.

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