MIAMI – Conference USA has announced its men's basketball Bonus Play groups and schedule for the final four games of conference play, and FIU will stay close to home for its first game of the innovative scheduling format. The Panthers, seeded ninth in group two (seeds 6-10) will head up Interstate 95 where they will face C-USA rival, and eighth seeded, Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 4 p.m.
Click here for complete Conference USA Bonus Play groups and Bonus Play schedule.
FIU and FAU met twice previously this year, splitting the two games. The Panthers defeated the Owls, 78-74, in the first meeting of the season, on Jan. 23, in Boca Raton, while Florida Atlantic handed FIU an 89-72 loss in Miami on Jan. 26.
Following its game against the Owls, FIU will host the 10-seed Louisiana Tech on Sunday, March 3, before traveling to seventh-seed Marshall on Wednesday, March 6. The Panthers will close out Bonus Play at home against the six-seed North Texas on Saturday, March 9. Times for the final three Bonus Play games will be announced on Sunday.
Conference USA Bonus Play Format
Within the format, teams will conclude the first seven weeks of the scheduled conference season on Feb. 16. Teams will be placed in one of three groups based on conference standings through the first 14 games of league action and will be guaranteed seeding within that group. The teams will be divided into two groups of five (1-5 and 6-10) and a group of four (11-14). During the final three weeks, teams will play within their respective grouping for the last four games of conference play. Home and away games within the groups will be determined by a preset formula.
Once all 18 games have been completed, 12 teams, based on their overall conference record within their respective group, will be seeded in the conference tournament. For example, if a program lands in the second group (6-10), it will seed no higher than six and no lower than 10 in the tournament field.
The 2019 Air Force Reserve C-USA Basketball Championships presented by Baylor Scott & White Sports Performance Center at the Star will be held in Frisco, Texas, March 13-16, at the Ford Center.
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