MIAMI (March 22, 2019) – The FIU men's basketball team returns to the postseason for just the second time in program history, and the first time since the 1994-95 season, as the Panthers face Texas State in the first round of the Collegeinsider.com Tournament (CIT) on March 23. Tipoff in San Marcos, Texas is slated for 7 p.m. ET. FIU comes into the CIT having won five of its last seven games, and six of its last 10.

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.

FIU looks to improve to 20-13 overall. A 20th win would mark just the third time in the program's history that the Panthers have won 20-or-more games in a season. In addition, it would equal the second most wins in program history, one shy of equaling the program record.

GAME 33: FIU at TEXAS STATE
2019 Collegeinsider.com Tournament First Round
Saturday, March 23, 2019 | 7 p.m. ET | Strahan Arena | San Marcos, Texas | WatchCIT.com

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FIU PANTHERS | 19-13
Last Game: March 13 vs. North Texas (C-USA Tournament), L, 71-57
Next Game: CIT Second Round, Opponent TBA (If necessary)
Head Coach: Jeremy Ballard
Alma Mater: Colgate, 2003
Career Record: 19-13 (First season)
at FIU: Same

TEXAS STATE BOBCATS | 24-9
Last Game: March 16 vs. Georgia State (Sun Belt Tournament), L, 59-46
Next Game: CIT Second Round, Opponent TBA (If necessary)
Head Coach: Danny Kaspar
Alma Mater: North Texas, 1978
Career Record: 98-98 (Sixth season)
at Texas State: 563-290 (28th season)

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: FIUSports.com (via MBB schedule)
Bill Culhane (Play-by-play)
Radio/Audio: ktsw.txstate.edu/FIUSports.com
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: First meeting
Twitter Updates: @FIUHoops
Tickets: Texas State Ticket Office 512-245-2272

QUICK HITS
- FIU advances to its second postseason tournament in program history, as it faces Texas State in the first round of the Collegeinsider.com Tournament ... It's the Panthers' first postseason appearance since facing UCLA in the 1995 NCAA Tournament (L, 92-56).

- The Panthers come into their game with the Bobcats looking for their sixth win in the last eight games.

- FIU is coming off a 71-57 loss to North Texas on March 13, in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament ... Brian Beard, Jr. scored 13 points and Devon Andrews and Osasumwen Osaghae added 10 points apiece.  

- Through March 20, Brian Beard, Jr. is fourth in the NCAA in steals-per-game (2.9) and total steals (94) ... Osasumwen Osaghae is fourth in blocked shots-per-game (3.1) ... FIU is also first nationally in steals (10.6).

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
- Texas State comes into its game with FIU sporting a 24-9 record overall, while posting a 12-6 slate in the Sun Belt Conference ... The Bobcats are 7-4 in their last 11 games after starting the season 17-5 ... Texas State was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Tournament by eventual tournament champion, Georgia State, 59-46, on March 16.

- The Bobcats' 24 wins were tied for the most in the Sun Belt, with Georgia State, and their 12 league wins were tied for the second most.

THE SERIES AGAINST TEXAS STATE
- Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between FIU and Texas State.

LAST TIME OUT
- No. 7 seed FIU ran into a buzz saw on March 13, as 10th-seeded North Texas handed a 71-57 loss to the Panthers in the first round of the 2019 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Basketball Tournament, at The Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, Texas.

- Brian Beard, Jr. scored a team-high 13 points and dished out five assists, while Devon Andrews and Osasumwen Osaghae added 10 points apiece ... Osaghae also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for his seventh-career double-double, and his third in the last four games, and had six blocked shots, equaling the third most blocks in a C-USA Tournament game.

- North Texas jumped out in the first half and took control of the game and never looked back ... The Mean Green shot 48.4 percent (15-for-31) in the first stanza while the Panthers shot just 31 percent (9-for-29) en route to a 39-22 lead at the half ... FIU looked to make a comeback in the second half by cutting the North Texas lead down to 11 points, 44-33, with just over 15 minutes left on a Trejon Jacob layup ... The Mean Green, however used an 8-0 run to push the lead back to 19 points, with 12:53 left, and then eventually a game-high 21 points, 64-43, with just over six minutes remaining.

- North Texas dominated the Panthers on the boards, outrebounding FIU, 49-25, and 20-12 on the offensive glass, which led to a 21-10 second chance points advantage.

A LOOK AHEAD
- The winner of the FIU-Texas State game will advance to the second round of the Collegeinsiders.com Tournament ... Opponent, date and time are to be announced.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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