Game Details
Marshall 105, FIU 97
FIU (12-7, 3-3 C-USA), Marshall (12-6, 5-0 C-USA)
Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 | 7 p.m.
Huntington, West Virginia | Cam Henderson Center
 
The Basics
- Everyone knew coming into Saturday night's game between FIU and Marshall that the contest would be a track meet, and neither team disappointed the 7,330 fans in attendance at the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, West Virginia. Unfortunately, for the Panthers, they found themselves on the wrong end of an entertaining 105-97 decision, that matched up the top two scoring teams in Conference USA. FIU drops to 12-7 on the year and moved to 3-3 in C-USA, while Marshall improves to 12-6 and remains perfect in league play.
 
- The Panthers placed five players in double figures, led by a career-high-tying 23 points from Devon Andrews (Lorain, Ohio). Joining Andrews was Brian Beard, Jr. (Rancho Cucamonga, California) and Willy Nunez, Jr. (Orlando, Florida) with 16 points apiece. Antonio Daye, Jr. (Durham, North Carolina) and Osasumwen Osaghae (Miami, Florida) chipped in with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Osaghae also grabbed a career-high-tying 15 rebounds for his second-straight double-double, and the fourth of his career, to go along with two blocked shots.
 
- FIU trailed by as many as 15 points early in the second half and battled back to cut the Marshall lead down to six, 77-71, on a Daye, Jr. layup with 10:01 left in the contest. The Thundering Herd pushed the advantage back up to double-digits once again, but like Thursday night against WKU in their 16-point come-from-behind win, the Panthers clawed their way back and made things uncomfortable for the Marshall faithful trailing by just four points, twice, in the final two minutes. Andrews drained a three-point shot with 1:50 left to make the score 97-93, and then Daye, Jr. hit a driving layup with 26 second left to cut the Marshall lead to 101-97, but that was a close at the Panthers got.   

- The Panthers equaled their best shooting performance of the season, hitting 53.8 percent (42-for-78), the first time shooting 50 percent or better since Dec. 20 against Florida Memorial (50.7 percent). Marshall shot 57.8 percent (37-for-64) from the field, including 44.4 percent (8-for-18) from behind the three-point arc.   
 
Notable
- Tonight's starters for FIU were: G Trejon Jacob (Raleigh, North Carolina); G Brian Beard, Jr. (Rancho Cucamonga, California); F Devon Andrews (Lorain, Ohio); F, Antonio Daye, Jr. (Durham, North Carolina); and C Osasumwen Osaghae (Miami, Florida) … FIU is 2-3 with this lineup on the year.

- FIU and Marshall combined for 122 points in the paint on the night, with the Panthers accounting for 68 of the 122 points.

- The Panthers had 20 turnovers on the night, just the second time this season that they recorded 20-or-more miscues … Despite FIU's 20 turnovers they still held a 21-19 advantage in points off turnovers, while forcing Marshall into 17 miscues.

- Brian Beard, Jr.'s 16 points marks his 44^th career double figure scoring game.

- Beard, Jr.'s three steals against the Thundering Herd gives him 153 for his career … He is currently in sole possession of fourth all-time on FIU's career steals list surpassing Patrick McDonald (147, 1982-86) against Old Dominion on Jan. 12 … Next up is Dwight Stewart in third place (172, 1988-91).

- In addition, Beard, Jr.'s six assists gives him 300 for his FIU career – in just 50 career games … He sits second on the Panthers' all-time assist list behind Carlos Arroyo (459, 1997-01).  

- Through tonight's game with Marshall, Osasumwen Osaghae has 78 career blocked shots, good enough for sole possession of fifth all-time in school history.

- In addition, Osaghae's 15-rebound effort tonight against Marshall is his sixth double-figure rebounding game of his career, and his third straight.

- Osaghae's 10 points marks his ninth double-figure scoring performance of the season and the 12^th of his career.

- Willy Nunez, Jr.'s 16 points marks his 15^th double-figure scoring performance in 25 career games for the Panthers.

- Antonio Daye, Jr.'s 15 points marks the ninth double-figure scoring performance of his short FIU career, and his fifth in the last six games. 

Up Next
FIU closes out its three-game road stretch at Florida Atlantic on Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. The Panthers return home for a three-game homestand, beginning on Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. against FAU.

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