MIAMI (Dec. 27, 2019) – The FIU men's basketball team hits the road to battle Minnesota on Saturday, Dec. 28, in the team's final game of 2019. Tipoff from Williams Arena is slated for 4 p.m. ET.
 

Fans can catch the game on BTN. Click here for FIU game notes.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Panthers come into the game ranked first nationally for total blocks (91) and blocked shots per game (7.6). Additionally, FIU comes in fourth for total steals (129) and steals per outing (10.8) and fifth for scoring offense (84.1). The team is also sixth for three-point defense (25.2) and seventh for assists per contest (17.7).

Individually, Osasumwen Osaghae leads the country with 55 total blocks during his senior campaign. His 4.58 blocked shots per game are also first nationally. Osaghae's 185 career swats put the forward in second place all-time in the FIU record books behind Adrian Diaz, who tallied 192 blocked shots in his career with the Panthers.

LAST TIME OUT

FIU took down Stetson 83-67 for the squad's sixth-straight victory. The team shot 44.1% from the field and 36.7% from behind the arc. The Panthers did not allow a single three-pointer in the win over the Hatters. 

Individually, Trejon Jacob closed out the win with 20 points and two steals. Osaghae tied his career-best for blocked shots, tallying eight against the Hatters to give him 185 blocks for his career at FIU.

GETTING TO KNOW THE GOLDEN GOPHERS

Minnesota comes into the contest at 6-5 for the year, and 1-1 in Big Ten Conference play. The Golden Gophers average 72.8 points per game while shooting 45.3% for the season. Head coach Richard Pitino is no stranger to the FIU program, having served as the Panthers' head coach during the 2012-13 season.

Daniel Oturu leads the Gophers offensively with 18.0 points per game. The sophomore also paces the Minnesota squad, posting 10.9 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per contest. Marcus Carr averages 7.1 assists per outing while Gabe Kalscheur posts 1.1 steals per game.

UP NEXT 

Conference USA play begins for FIU to start the new year. The Panthers welcome the UTEP Miners for a noon ET game on Thursday, Jan. 2, at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

ALUMNI GAME

The FIU men's basketball program welcomes back its alumni to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan. 18, for the Panthers' game against Middle Tennessee. Tipoff from the Conference USA clash is set for 7 p.m. ET. The 2019-2020 campaign marks the 25th anniversary of the banner season, which resulted in the program's first NCAA appearance.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Get all the latest information on FIU men's basketball by following @FIUMensBBall on Facebook and @FIUHoops on Twitter and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram