Game Details
FAU 77, FIU 72  
FIU (11-16, 5-9 C-USA), FAU (11-15, 5-9 C-USA)
Boca Raton, Florida | FAU Arena
 
The Basics
 - The FIU men's basketball team closed out its Conference USA-long three-game road swing on Saturday afternoon looking for a season-series sweep of Florida Atlantic. The Owls, however, ruined the Panthers' plans handing FIU a 77-72 loss at FAU Arena in Boca Raton. FIU drops to 11-16 on the year and 5-9 in C-USA play. FAU improves to 11-15 overall and 5-9 in league play, while snapping a four-game losing skid.
 
- With the Panthers holding a 70-69 lead, following two Brian Beard, Jr. (Rancho Cucamonga, California) free throws, FAU's Gendarius Troutman drained a three-point shot from deep in the corner with 47 seconds left to put the Owls on top for good. Florida Atlantic secured the game hitting five of its six offerings from the charity stripe in the final 23 seconds to put the game out of reach. 
 
- The Panthers shot 45.8 percent (27-for-59) from the field, in the loss, and 75 percent (15-for-20) from the charity stripe, but FIU struggled from behind the three-point arc for the third-straight game. The Panthers hit just 21.4 percent (3-for-14) of their shots from three-point range, including an 0-for-7 clip in the second stanza. On the other end of the court, the Owls hit for 45 percent (27-for-60) from the field and a sizzling 93.8 percent (15-for-16) from the free-throw line.
 
- Beard. Jr. led the Panthers with 20 points while Eric Lockett (Warner Robins, Georgia) netted 10 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for his fifth career double-double. Beard, Jr. also handed out six assists and had four steals in 40 minutes of play.
   
Stat of the Game
Florida Atlantic held a 21-12 advantage in bench scoring in the win over FIU, with Troutman leading the way with 17 points, including the go-ahead basket. Josh Stamps (Chicago, Illinois) led the Panthers off the bench with nine.
 
Notable
- Tonight's starters for FIU were: G Trejon Jacob (Raleigh, North Carolina), G Brian Beard, Jr., G Eric Lockett, F Hassan Hussein (Lorton, Virginia), and F Jay Harvey (Chicago, Illinois) … The Panthers are 4-3 with this starting five.
 
- FIU's loss to Florida Atlantic drops its all-time record to 23-18 against the Owls … The setback is the third loss in the last four games against the Owls.
 
- With his 19 points, G Eric Lockett has scored double-figures in 24 games during his career with FIU, and in 22 of the last 30 games dating back to last season.
 
- G Brian Beard, Jr.'s 20 points marks his 25th double-figure scoring performance of the season and his 25th-straight … In addition, his 20 points was his seven-career 20-point outing of his career with the Panthers, and his fourth in the last seven games.
 
- In addition to his 19 points, Lockett also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for his fifth career double-double.
 
Up Next
Following today's game, FIU will return home for its final Conference USA home weekend of the season, beginning when North Texas visits the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. meeting with the Panthers on Feb. 22. plays its home finale on Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. against Rice.

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