MIAMI (March 17, 2019) – The FIU men's basketball team will return to the postseason, this March, for the second time in program history and the first time since the 1994-95 season, as the Panthers accepted an invitation to take part in the Collegeinsider.com Tournament (CIT). FIU will face Texas State in the first round on March 23, at 7 p.m. ET, in San Marcos, Texas.
 
"We are thrilled to be continuing our season in the CIT," said FIU men's basketball Head Coach Jeremy Ballard. "Our players have worked tirelessly this season to put ourselves in a position to be invited to postseason play and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to build this program up. The field is daunting and we have a great deal of respect for Texas State and all of the success that they've had this far."
 
The last time the Panthers played in the postseason was on March 17, 1995, when the then Trans America Athletic Conference Tournament Champions faced UCLA in the NCAA Tournament first round in Boise, Idaho, falling to the Bruins, 92-56.
 
Texas State enters the CIT with a 24-9 overall record and posted a 12-6 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. The Bobcats defeated South Alabama, 79-67, in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals, before losing in the tournament semifinals, 59-46, to eventual Sun Belt Tournament Champion Georgia State.

This season, FIU recorded its first winning season – 19-13 overall and 10-8 in Conference USA play – since 2012-13 (18-14) and only its second winning campaign since 1999-00 (16-14). Since going to Division I to start the 1986-87 campaign, and including this season, the Panthers have recorded just six seasons with an overall record of .500-or-better. FIU's 19 wins are the third most since moving to Division I, while it's 10 C-USA victories are the fourth most league wins in program history.

The 2019 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (All Times ET)
 
First Round
Monday, March 18
Quinnipiac (16-14) vs. NJIT (21-12) 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19
Cornell (15-15) vs. Robert Morris (17-16) 7 p.m.
 
Jim Phelan Classic
IUPUI (16-16) vs. Marshall (19-14) 7:00 p.m.
 
Wednesday, March 20
Texas Southern (21-13) vs. New Orleans (19-13) 8 p.m.
Grambling (17-16) vs. UT Rio Grande Valley (19-16) 8 p.m.
Presbyterian (18-15) vs. Seattle (18-14) 10 p.m.
 
Hugh Durham Classic
Green Bay (17-16) vs. ETSU (24-9) 7 p.m.
 
Thursday, March 21
FAU (17-15) vs. Charleston Southern (17-15) 7 p.m.
 
Coach John McLendon Classic
Saint Francis Brooklyn (17-15) vs. Hampton (16-17) 7 p.m.
 
Riley Wallace Classic
CSU Bakersfield (16-15) vs. Cal State Fullerton (16-17) 10 p.m.
 
Lou Henson Classic
Kent State (22-10) vs. UL Monroe (18-15) 8 p.m.
 
Friday, March 22
Drake (24-9) vs. Southern Utah (16-16) 8:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, March 23
FIU (19-13) vs. Texas State (24-9) 7 p.m.
 
Second Round
Note: Top 3 seeds will get a bye after first round
March 25-27
 
Quarterfinals
March 27-31
 
Semifinals
April 2
 
Championship
April 4
 
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