MIAMI (Jan. 8, 2020) – The FIU men's basketball team travels to the Lone Star State for a Conference USA contest against North Texas on Thursday, Jan. 9 at The Super Pit. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Fans can catch the game on ESPN+. Click here for game notes.
WEEKLY WARRIOR
Devon Andrews was named the Conference USA Player of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon. This was the first weekly honor of the season for the senior. Andrews was also named the C-USA Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.
Andrews led FIU to a 2-0 record on the weekend behind 21.0 points per game on 37.5 percent shooting from the field. The forward also averaged six rebounds to help the Panthers remain undefeated at home this season. In the conference opener against UTEP, Andrews posted a squad-best 16 points and logged three assists. During the overtime thriller against UTSA, the senior recorded a season-best 26 points while shooting 40.9 percent from the field. Andrews also tallied nine rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals against the Roadrunners.
BY THE NUMBERS
FIU enters the contest as the nation's leaders in total blocks (107) and blocked shots per outing (7.1). The Panthers also rank fifth for total steals (155) and steals per game (10.3) and sixth for three-point defense (26.2).
Osasumwen Osaghae paces the nation with 67 total blocks and 4.47 blocked shots per contest. The senior is also tied for first in the conference with four double-doubles this season. Antonio Daye, Jr. enters the game first in C-USA with 5.2 assists per contest and 78 total assists
The Panthers are off to a hot start, posting a mark of 11-4 on the season. The record is the best 15-game start in program history.
LAST TIME OUT
FIU took down UTSA 90-83 in an overtime thriller on Saturday. The Panthers shot 44.6% in the game and outscored the opposition 13-6 during the extra period. Eric Lovett recorded a steal and drained a jumper as time expired to extend the game an additional five minutes.
Andrews led the Panthers with a season-high 26 points, and the senior was a rebound shy from recording a double-double. Osaghae posted three blocks in the game while Daye Jr. logged a team-best nine assists.
MEETING THE MEAN GREEN
North Texas comes into the contest at 7-8 for the year and 1-1 against C-USA opponents. The team opened league play with a loss to WKU, but the team bounced back to defeat Marshall 67-64. The Mean Green are shooting 46.8% from the field while averaging 69.7 points per outing.
Individually, Umoja Gibson paces the UNT squad with 14.1 points per contest. The guard comes in shooting 43% from the field and leads the Mean Green with 30.6 minutes per game. Defensively, Deng Geu leads North Texas in blocks per outing (0.8) and rebounds per game (6.5).
UP NEXT
The Panthers head to Houston to face the Owls of Rice on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. ET.
ALUMNI GAME
The FIU men's basketball program welcomes back its alumni to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Saturday, Jan 18, for the Panthers' game against Middle Tennessee. Tipoff from the Conference USA clash is set for 7 p.m. ET. The 2019-2020 campaign marks the 25th anniversary of the banner season, which resulted in the program's first NCAA appearance.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on FIU men's basketball by following @FIUMensBBall on Facebook and @FIUHoops on Twitter and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
