MIAMI – FIU returns to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for its first of two home Bonus Play games, beginning on March 3, against Louisiana Tech. Tipoff is slated for 12 p.m. This will be the second meeting this season with LA Tech. The Panthers defeated the Bulldogs, 75-69, on Feb. 2, in Miami.

FIU looks to improve to 18-11 overall and 9-7 in C-USA play. The Panthers are also looking to extend their winning streak to four games, matching their longest winning stretch of the season. In addition, an 18^th win would equal the fourth most wins in program history, joining the 2012-13 team.

GAME 29: FIU vs. LOUISIANA TECH
Sunday, March 3, 2019 | 12 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 | 17-11 (8-7 C-USA)
Last Game: Feb. 23 at Florida Atlantic, W, 79-76
Next Game: March 6 at Marshall, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 17-11 (First season)
at FIU: Same

LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | 18-11 (8-8 C-USA)
Last Game: Feb. 28 vs. Marshall, L, 90-79
Next Game: March 6 at Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Eric Konkol
Alma Mater: Wisconsin at Eau Claire, 2000
Career Record: 81-47 (Fourth season)
at Louisiana Tech: Same

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: CUSA TV
A.J. Ricketts (Play-by-play)
Radio/Audio: None
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: Series Tied, 6-6
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: FIU Ticket Office 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263)

QUICK HITS
- With its last win at Florida Atlantic on Feb. 23, 79-76, FIU secured its first winning season since 2012-13, when the Panthers went 18-14 and advanced to the Sun Belt Conference Championship game … It's also only the second winning campaign since 1999-00.

- Brian Beard, Jr. comes into the game with the Bulldogs with 999 career points, in 59 games at FIU ... He looks to become just the seventh player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.

- FIU is coming off a 79-76 win at Florida Atlantic on Feb. 23 ... Antonio Daye, Jr. scored a career-high 22 points, while Brian Beard, Jr. and Trejon Jacob chipped in with 20 and 10 points, respectively.   

- Through Feb. 28, Brian Beard, Jr. is second in the NCAA in steals-per-game (3.2) and fourth in total steals (89) ... Osasumwen Osaghae is fifth in blocked shots-per-game (2.9) ... FIU is also ninth in scoring (84.0).

LAST TIME OUT
- The FIU men's basketball team bent but certainly did not break on Feb. 23, during the first day of Conference USA's Bonus Play, as the Panthers pulled out a thrilling 79-76 gut-check win over Florida Atlantic at FAU Arena ... The win secured FIU's first winning season since the 2012-13 campaign, and only the second since 1999-00.

- Antonio Daye, Jr. poured in a career-high 22 points for the Panthers in the win, his second-straight 20-point effort, while Brian Beard, Jr. dropped 20 points, including 14 in the second half. Beard, Jr., who finished the game with 999 career points, also had six assists and six steals ... Trejon Jacob had 10 points against the Owls.

- After trailing by 16 points in the first half, Florida Atlantic, clawed its way back into the contest in the second stanza, taking its first lead of the game, 45-44, with 11:47 left ... The Owls pushed the lead to as many as eight, with just over six minutes left, 63-55 ... The Panthers did not go away, using a 12-0 run, capped by a Beard, Jr. four-point play with 3:27 left to put FIU up, 67-63 ... The Owls would cut the lead to one, 67-66, with just over three minutes remaining, but the Panthers held on to the lead.

SCOUTING LOUISIANA TECH
- The Bulldogs come into their game with FIU with an 18-11 record and an 8-8 mark in Conference USA following their 90-79 loss to Marshall at home on Feb. 28 ... It was their first home loss of the season ... Louisiana Tech has won three-of-four and five of its last nine games ... In addition, LA Tech is 7-7 in its last 14 games after starting the season 11-3.

- DaQuan Bracey leads four active players in double figures for the Bulldogs, averaging 15.5 points-per-contest ... Anthony Duruji is second on the team in scoring, netting 12.3 points-per-contest, while Amorie Archibald is dropping in 10.4 points-per-game, and JaColby Pemberton is averaging 10.0 points-per-game ... Duruji is grabbing a team-high 6.2 boards-per-game.

THE SERIES AGAINST THE BULLDOGS
- FIU and LA Tech come into Sunday's game with the all-time series tied at 6-6 ... In addition, the series is tied at 3-3 with both schools as members of Conference USA ... The Panthers defeated the Bulldogs earlier this season, with a 75-69 win in Miami on Feb. 2.

- FIU and LA Tech met twice a season from the 1998-99 season through the 2000-01 campaign while both schools were members of the Sun Belt Conference ... The series was tied at 3-3 during that stretch.

- The Panthers are 4-2 all-time against LA Tech at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, with its last win coming earlier this season.

- FIU won the only overtime game played in the series, 73-65, on Feb. 6, 1999 (2ot) in Miami.

BEARD, JR. LOOKS TO BECOME SEVENTH PLAYER TO REACH 1,000-POINT PLATEAU
- Coming into the game with Louisiana Tech, Brian Beard, Jr. currently boasts 999 career points scored, coming in just 59 career games ... When Beard, Jr. reaches the 1,000-point plateau, he will become just the seventh player in program history to reach the milestone.

BEARD, JR. CLIMBING THE CHARTS
- In just 59 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 (352), 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).

- Beard, Jr.'s six steals against Florida Atlantic gives him 179 for his career … Against the Owls, he surpassed Carlos Arroyo (177, 1997-01) for second all-time in school history.

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
Following Sunday's game against Louisiana Tech, FIU will hit the road and head to Huntington, West Virginia, to face Marshall on March 6, at 7 p.m. ... That game will be carried live on ESPN+ ... The Panthers will return home for their regular season finale on Saturday, March 9, at 7 p.m.

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