MIAMI – The FIU men's basketball team will officially tipoff the 2018-19 season on Wednesday night, Nov. 7, when it butts heads with Webber International at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. The game is the first for the Panthers over three days. FIU will return to their home floor on Friday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. to face Johnson & Wales.

The game will be the first as a head coach for FIU's Jeremy Ballard. Ballard, who was named head coach on April 20, takes over a program that posted a 14-18 record last season and an 8-10 mark in Conference USA. The Panthers return eight players from last year's roster, including two starters – Brian Beard, Jr. and Trejon Jacob – and welcomes six newcomers.

GAME ONE: FIU vs. WEBBER INTERNATIONAL
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2018 | 7 p.m. | Ocean Bank Convocation Center | Miami, Fla. | PantherVision (CUSA TV)

Click here to watch live on CUSA.TV
Click here for live stats

FIU PANTHERS | 0-0
Last Game: First game of the 2018-19 season
Next Game: Nov. 9 vs. Johnson & Wales, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 0-0 (First season)
at FIU: Same

WEBBER INTERNATIONAL WARRIORS | 2-0
Last Game: Nov. 3 vs. Southeastern Baptist, W, 86-76
Next Game: Nov. 9 vs. Culver-Stockton, 7:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Allen Corbin
Alma Mater: West Virginia, 2006
Career Record:13-14 (Second season)
at Webber International: Same

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: PantherVision (CUSA TV)/FIUSports.com
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)
Radio/Audio: None
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: FIU leads series, 2-1
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263)

QUICK HITS
- Friday marks the beginning of FIU's 38th season of intercollegiate basketball as the Panthers tipoff the 2018-19 campaign against Webber International.

- Wednesday's meeting with Webber International is the first of two games in three days that FIU will play at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center ... The Panthers will return home on Friday, Nov. 9, when it butts heads with Johnson & Wales at 7 p.m.

- The Panthers come into the contest against the Warriors with a 23-14 record in season openers all-time ... FIU looks for its fifth-straight season-opening win, and its sixth victory in the past seven years.

- Jeremy Ballard begins his first season as a collegiate head coach of the Panthers after serving 14 years as an assistant coach, including four out of the last six years at VCU.

SCOUTING WEBBER INTERNATIONAL
- Webber International comes into Wednesday's game with a 2-0 record following an 86-76 win over Southeastern Baptist on Nov. 3, in Jacksonville n the first round the Trinity Baptist Tip-off Tournament ... The Warriors began the 2017-19 campaign with a 92-82 win against St. Andrews College on Nov. 2, also in Jacksonville.

- Tommie Luke leads four players in double figures, averaging 18.5 points-per-game, while Rasheem Etienne is second, netting 11.5 points-per-outing ... Malik Morrow and Kevin Grace round out the double-figure scorers, averaging 10.5 points apiece, while also sharing top rebounding honors, grabbing 7.0 rebounds-per-contest.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE WARRIORS
- Tonight's game against Webber International marks just the fourth meeting between the two schools, with FIU holding a slight 2-1 advantage, dating back to Jan. 12, 1983 ... The Panthers won the first two games before dropping the last meeting ... Both of FIU's wins took place in Miami.

JUST FOR STARTERS
- FIU comes into Wednesday's season opener boasting an 21-14 record in lid lifters (two wins - the season opener in 2004-05 vs. Florida Atlantic, and in 2003-04 vs. Morris Brown were vacated due to NCAA sanctions) ... FIU is looking for their fifth-straight season-opening victory, and their sixth in the past eight years.

- Ocean Bank Convocation Center has been pretty kind to the Panthers in season openers through the years ... The Blue and Gold come into Wednesday's contest with a 18-5 record (two wins - the season opener in 2004-05 vs. Florida Atlantic, and in 2003-04 vs. Morris Brown were vacated due to NCAA sanctions) all-time in season openers on their home floor ... FIU is 7-1 in its last seven home-opening games with the only loss coming to Miami (73-50) on Nov. 11, 2006.

UP NEXT FOR FIU
- Wednesday's meeting with Webber International is the first of two games in three days that FIU will play at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, and the first of three-straight ... The Panthers will return home on Friday, Nov. 9, when it butts heads with Johnson & Wales at 7 p.m., before closing out their three-game season-opening homestand against Milwaukee on Nov. 13, at 7 p.m.

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