MIAMI – FIU enters its final weekend before Conference USA's Bonus Play scheduling format starts, with two crucial home games, beginning Feb. 14, against Rice. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and can be seen live on CUSA TV. The Panthers will close out the weekend on Feb. 16, with a 2 p.m. tip against North Texas.

FIU, who looks to improve to 15-11 overall and 6-7 in C-USA play, will try to snap its two-game skid after dropping its last two games in Texas.

GAME 26: FIU vs. RICE
Thursday, Feb. 14, 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 | 14-11 (5-7 C-USA)
Last Game: Feb. 9 at UTEP, L, 85-75
Next Game: Feb. 16 vs, North Texas, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 14-11 (First season)
at FIU: Same

RICE OWLS | 10-15 (5-7 C-USA)
Last Game: Feb. 9 vs. Marshall, W, 74-69
Next Game: Feb. 16 vs. Florida Atlantic, 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Scott Pera
Alma Mater: Penn State, 1989
Career Record: 17-39 (Second season)
at Rice: Same

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA TV
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)
Radio/Audio: FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: Series tied, 3-3
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: FIU Athletics Ticket Office 305-FIU-GAME

QUICK HITS
- FIU looks to get back on the winning track after dropping its last two games in Texas, to UTSA (100-67) on Feb. 7 and UTEP (85-75) on Feb. 9.

- FIU has forced its opponents into 508 turnovers on the year ... It's just the seventh time in program history, and the first time since the 2012-13 campaign (569), that FIU has forced its foes into 500-or-more miscues.

- FIU is coming off an 85-75 loss at UTEP on Feb. 9 ... It was the Panthers' fourth loss in the past five games ... Devon Andrews had a career-high 26 points, and Antonio Daye. Jr. and Willy Nunez, Jr. had 14 and 10 points.

LAST TIME OUT
- FIU got a career and game-high 26 points from Devon Andrews, however that would not be enough as the Panthers dropped their second-straight game on their Texas swing trip, 85-75, to UTEP on Feb. 7 ... Joining Andrews in double-digits was Antonio Daye, Jr. and Willy Nunez, Jr. with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

- FIU led by as many as 12 points, 19-7, with 11:04 left in the half, however, UTEP stormed back to take a 37-33 lead into the locker room at the break ... The Miners pushed their halftime advantage to a game-high 16 points, 60-44, with 12:31 left in the contest, seemingly pulling away and taking control of the game ... The Panthers, however, like they have done all season long, battled back to cut the UTEP double-digit lead to six on four occasions in the final four minutes, but could not get any closer.

- On the night, UTEP shot 50.0 percent (28-for-56) from the field, while FIU hit at just a 38.5 percent (25-for-65) clip, including 28.6 percent (6-for-21) from behind the three-point arc ... The Panthers forced the Miners into 25 turnovers while FIU had 17 miscues, however UTEP still held a 23-17 points-off-turnover advantage.

SCOUTING RICE
- Rice comes into its game with the Panthers with a 10-15 overall record and a 5-7 mark in Conference USA action ... The Owls are 3-3 in their last six games and are coming off a big 74-69 win over Marshall on Saturday in Houston.

- Chris Mullins leads four players scoring in double figures, averaging 12.6 points-per-game, while Ako Adams is right behind, netting 12.0 points-per-contest ... Robert Martin and Jack Williams are averaging 11.8 and 10.1 points-per-game, respectively ... Williams also leads the team on the glass, grabbing 8.1 boards-per-contest.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE OWLS
- Thursday's game marks just the seventh meeting between FIU and Rice all-time, with the series being tied 3-3 ... FIU is 2-1 at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

BEARD, JR. CLIMBING THE CHARTS; MOVES INTO SECOND ALL-TIME IN CAREER ASSISTS
- In just 56 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 (336), 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 (166) 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
- FIU will close out its schedule prior to Conference USA's Bonus Play on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. against North Texas ... Saturday will also be Senior Day, honoring the Panthers' three seniors; Michael Douglas, Brian Beard, Jr. and Elhadji Dieng.

- The Panthers will learn their Bonus Play opponents on Saturday night following the day's games ... FIU will play on four of the following five dates, Feb. 23, 28, and March 3, 6, 9, with two games being played at home and two on the road ... The scheduling format can be found on the bottom of this page.

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