MIAMI – FIU closes out its regular season series with Florida Atlantic, with the second of two-straight meetings against the Owls, on Saturday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Saturday's game is also the first of three-straight at home for FIU.
The Panthers look to improve to 14-7 overall and 5-3 in C-USA play.
For ticket information, or to purchase tickets, call the FIU athletics ticket office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
GAME 21: FIU vs. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 | 7 p.m. | Ocean Bank Convocation Center | Miami, Florida | CUSA TV
Click here for complete FIU game notes
Click here to watch live on CUSA TV
Click here for live stats
FIU PANTHERS | 13-7 (4-3 C-USA)
Last Game: Jan. 23 at Florida Atlantic, W, 78-74
Next Game: Jan. 31 vs. Southern Miss, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 13-7 (First season)
at FIU: Same
FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS | 11-9 (2-5 C-USA)
Last Game: Jan. 23 vs. FIU, L, 78-74
Next Game: Jan. 31 vs. Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Dusty May
Alma Mater: Indiana, 2000
Career Record: 11-9 (First season)
at Florida Atlantic: Same
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA TV
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)
Radio: FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: FIU leads series, 24-18 (see The Series Note)
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: FIU Ticket Office 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263)
QUICK HITS
- FIU's 13-7 start is the second-best 20-game start in program history, behind the 1997-98 squad that started the season 14-6.
- FIU comes into the FAU game after a 78-74 come-from-behind win over the Owls on Jan. 23 in Boca Raton ... It was the Panthers' 10th come-from-behind win of the year ...
Devon Andrews led the way with 19 points.
- Through Jan 24,
Brian Beard, Jr. leads NCAA in steals-per-game (3.2) and total steals (64) ...
Osasumwen Osaghae is ninth in the nation in blocked shots-per-game (2.8) ... FIU is also fourth in scoring (87.8).
LAST TIME OUT
- FIU turned in two key defensive stops in the final four seconds, and
Antonio Daye, Jr. hit two free throws with less than one second left to secure the victory for the Panthers, as FIU pulled out a thrilling 78-74 win over Florida Atlantic on Jan. 23, in Boca Raton.
- FIU trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and led by as many as 12 in the second, yet hung on down the stretch for its 10th come-from-behind win of the season, and its fifth when trailing by double-digits.
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Devon Andrews led four players in double figures with 19 points, while
Trejon Jacob added 15 points and
Brian Beard, Jr. chipped in with 14 points ... Daye, Jr, finished with 10 points in the win ... Beard, Jr. dished out nine assists, falling one shy of equaling his career-high.
- On the night, FIU finished the contest shooting 47.5 percent (29-for-61) from the field and 46.2 percent (12-for-26) from behind the three-point arc, its best three-point shooting percentage this season.
SCOUTING FLORIDA ATLANTIC
- The Owls come into their game against FIU with an 11-9 record and a 2-5 mark in Conference USA ... Florida Atlantic has dropped its last four games, including its 78-74 loss to the Panthers on Jan. 23 ... The setback was also the Owls' fifth loss in the last seven games.
- Jailyn Ingram is one of three players averaging double figures in the scoring column, netting 18.9 points-per-game, along with Anthony Adger, averaging 16.4 points, and Xavian Stapleton is scoring 12.7 points-per-game on the year.
THE SERIES AGAINST THE OWLS
- FIU comes into its game with Florida Atlantic leading the all-time series against the Owls, 24-18 ... The actual on-court record is 25-18, however, the Panthers had to vacate one win due to NCAA sanctions.
- The Panthers have currently won eight of the last 11 games and 10-of-14 against Florida Atlantic dating back to the 2011-12 season.
- There have been two overtime games between the two schools, with FAU winning both, 91-88 on Feb. 28, 2007 and 80-78 on Feb. 19, 2011.
BEARD, JR. CLIMBING THE CHARTS; MOVES INTO SECOND ALL-TIME IN CAREER ASSISTS
- In just 51 career games on the floor for FIU,
Brian Beard, Jr. has made his mark in the Panthers' record books ... Beard, Jr. is currently second all-time in school history in career assists (309), surpassing Dwight Stewart (264, 1989-93) against Middle Tennessee on Jan. 3 ... He sits second only to Carlos Arroyo (1997-2001) who finished his career with 459 assists ... Arroyo's total came over four years (100 games).
- In addition, Beard, Jr. is fourth all-time on FIU's career steals list (154) surpassing Patrick McDonald (147, 1982-86) against Old Dominion on Jan. 12 … Next up is Dwight Stewart in third place (172, 1988-91).
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 hit 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 in its next outing, against Ave Maria on Nov. 23, in a 104-84 win in the Johnny Bach Classic at Fordham.
- The Panthers hit the 100-point plateau on Dec. 13, with a 102-89 win against North Florida, and most recently poured in 108 points in a 108-67 win over Florida Memorial on Dec. 20.
- The Panthers' six 100-point games are tied for the second most in a season in school history, joining the 1982-83 team ... The most 100-point outings in a season for FIU came during the 1997-98 campaign with seven.
UP NEXT FOR FIU
Following its game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, the Panthers will continue their homestand against Southern Miss on Jan. 31, before closing out the three-game stretch at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center against Louisiana Tech on Feb. 2 ... Both games are at 7 p.m.
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