MIAMI – FIU closes out its two-game road stretch on Saturday, Dec. 1, when it faces Arkansas in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET, with the game being carried live on SEC Network Plus. Brett Dolan and Manny Watkins will call the action.

FIU looks for its fifth-straight win and to improve its overall record to 8-1. The Panthers are in the midst of their best start in school history surpassing the previous best, an eight-game start of 6-2, during the 2013-14, 1992-93 and 1983-84 seasons.

GAME NINE: FIU at ARKANSAS
Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 | 8 p.m. ET | Bud Walton Arena | Fayetteville, Arkansas | SEC Network Plus

Click here for complete FIU game notes
Click here to watch live on SEC Network Plus
Click here for live stats

FIU PANTHERS | 7-1
Last Game: Nov. 28 at FGCU, W, 81-80
Next Game: Dec. 13 vs. North Florida, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 7-1 (First season)
at FIU: Same

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS | 4-1
Last Game: Nov. 23 s. UT Arlington, W, 78-60
Next Game: Dec. 5 at Colorado State, 9 p.m.
Head Coach: Mike Anderson
Alma Mater: Tulsa, 1982
Career Record: 355-185 (17th season)
at Arkansas: 155-87 (Eighth season)

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: SEC Network Plus
Brett Dolan (Play-by-play)
Manny Watkins (Analyst)
Radio: Razorback/IMG Sports Network; XM Channel 382
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: First meeting
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: Arkansas Ticket Office 800-982-HOGS (4647)

QUICK HITS
- FIU's 7-1 start marks its best start in the program's history, surpassing the previous best, an eight-game start of 6-2, during the 2013-14, 1992-93 and 1983-84 campaigns.

- FIU comes into Saturday's game off a thrilling 81-80 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 28 in Ft. Myers ... Brian Beard, Jr. scored 21 points, while Devon Andrews added 15 points, and Willy Nunez, Jr. and Trejon Jacob each chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

- Through games of Nov. 28, Brian Beard, Jr. is third in NCAA Division I in steals-per-game (3.3), seventh in assists-per-game (7.1) and 25th in scoring (22.0).

LAST TIME OUT
- FIU is coming off a thrilling 81-80 come-from-behind victory at Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 28 ... The Eagles led the Panthers by as many as 15 points, 39-24, with 5:02 left in the first half.

- Brian Beard, Jr. scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, including the game-winner on a fade-away three from the top of the three-point arc with 14 seconds remaining in the game after FGCU took the lead on the previous possession.

- In addition to Beard, Jr. finishing with double figures, Devon Andrews scored 15 points, while Willy Nunez, Jr. and Trejon Jacob chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively in the win ... Andrews also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to go along with a career-high four steals and a career-high tying four assists.

- FIU finished the night shooting 50.0 percent (32-for-64) from the floor and 36.4 percent (12-for-33) from behind the three-point arc.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS
- Arkansas comes into its game with FIU with a 4-1 record, and winners of its last four-straight following a 73-71 season-opening overtime loss against Texas on Nov. 9 ... Included in their four-game winning streak, the Razorbacks defeated Indiana, 73-72, on Nov. 18, in Fayetteville.  

- Daniel Gafford leads four players in double figures in the scoring column, averaging 19.2 points-per-game, followed by Mason Jones' 13.0 points-per-outing ... Isaiah Joe and Adrio Bailey round out the Razorbacks' double-figure scorers, netting 12.8 and 11.2 points-per-game, respectively ... Gafford also paces the team on the glass, grabbing 8.0 rebounds-per-contest.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE RAZORBACKS
- Saturday's game against Arkansas marks the first meeting between the two schools.

DROPPIN' SOME' C-NOTES
- FIU's 117 points against Johnson & Wales marked the second-straight game that the Panthers reached the century mark … The Panthers scored 110 points in the 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, and accomplished the feat against Ave Maria on Nov. 23, in a 104-84 win.

- The Panthers' four 100-point games are the third most in a season in school history ... 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.

UP NEXT FOR FIU
Following Saturday's game with Arkansas, the Panthers will have a break for final exams before beginning a three-game homestand on Dec. 13, against North Florida ... FIU will also face USF on Dec. 18, and Florida Memorial on Dec. 20, during the stretch ... All three games begin at 7 p.m.

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