EL PASO, Texas – FIU looks to get back on the winning track and tries to split its two-game Texas swing trip, when it faces UTEP on Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Don Haskins Center. Tipoff is slated for 9 p.m. ET and can be seen live on ESPN+.

The Panthers look to improve to 15-10 overall and 6-6 in C-USA play, while also looking for just its second win in El Paso.

GAME 25: FIU at UTEP
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 | 9 p.m. ET | Don Haskins Center | El Paso, Texas | ESPN+

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FIU PANTHERS | 14-10 (5-6 C-USA)
Last Game: Feb. 7 at UTSA, L, 100-67
Next Game: Feb. 14 vs, Rice, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 14-10 (First season)
at FIU: Same

UTEP MINERS | 7-15 (2-9 C-USA)
Last Game: Feb. 7 vs. Florida Atlantic, L, 61-48
Next Game: Feb. 14 vs. Louisiana Tech, 7:30 p.m.
Head Coach: Rodney Terry
Alma Mater: St. Edwards, 1990
Career Record: 7-15 (First season)
at UTEP: Same

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: ESPN+
Duke Keith (Play-by-play)
Leonard Owens (Analyst)
Radio/Audio: None
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: UTEP leads series, 10-1
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: UTEP Athletics Ticket Office 915-747-6150

QUICK HITS
- The Panthers look for just their second win in El Paso, and their first since Jan. 23, 2015.

- FIU is coming off a 100-67 loss at UTSA on Feb. 7 ... It was the Panthers' third loss in the past four games ... Devon Andrews and Brian Beard, Jr. had 14 points apiece in the loss.

- Through Feb. 6, Brian Beard, Jr. leads the NCAA in total steals (73) and is third in steals-per-game (3.0) ... Osasumwen Osaghae is eighth in blocked shots-per-game (2.9) ... FIU is also sixth in scoring (85.1).

LAST TIME OUT
- FIU looked to win back-to-back games for the first time since November, however that will now have to wait as UTSA handed the Panthers a 100-67 loss on Feb. 7 ... The loss was the Panthers' worst of the season.

- Devon Andrews and Brian Beard, Jr. each scored a team-high 14 points, while Phillip Smith scored a career-high eight points ... Osasumwen Osaghae led the Panthers with a team-high nine rebounds.

- UTSA came out of the locker room on fire in the first half using a 15-2 run to start the game and take control early on ... The Roadrunners would never let FIU into the contest extending their lead to as many as 23 points in the first stanza, before taking a 50-30 lead into the locker room at the break ... UTSA would push the lead to as many as 33 points, 80-47, in the second half, while outscoring the Panthers, 50-37 in the final 20 minutes.

- FIU finished the game shooting 40.0 percent from the field (26-for-65) while UTSA shot an impressive 58.0 percent (40-for-69) from the floor.

SCOUTING UTEP
- UTEP comes into its game with FIU with a 7-15 record and a 2-9 mark in Conference USA, following its third-straight loss on Feb. 7, to Florida Atlantic, 61-48 ... The Miners have dropped six of their last seven games.

- Evan Gilyard leads three UTEP players in double figures, averaging 15.3 points-per-game, while Ele Odigie and Nigel Hawkins are netting 13.0 points-per-game each ... Odigie is also the Miners' top rebounder, grabbing 9.7 boards-per-contest, good enough for second in C-USA.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE MINERS
- UTEP comes into its game with FIU, holding a commanding 10-1 series lead, dating back to the 1998-99 season ... The Panthers are 0-4 at home, 1-4 in El Paso, and 0-2 in neutral site games with those contests taking place in the Conference USA Tournament ... FIU has dropped the last five games against the Miners.

BEARD, JR. CLIMBING THE CHARTS; MOVES INTO SECOND ALL-TIME IN CAREER ASSISTS
- In just 55 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 (331), 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 (163) 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 return home for its final two games before Conference USA Bonus Play begins, taking on Rice on Feb. 14, at 7 p.m., and North Texas on Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. ... The North Texas game will be Senior Day.

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