MIAMI – The FIU men's basketball team clinched the best start to a season in program history with its 72-65 victory over Stetson on Saturday night at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, which also marked its eighth straight win.
 
The 8-1 start surpasses the 2018-19 squad, which opened the season with wins in seven of their first eight games overall.

The eight straight victories also equal the longest in-season winning streak in program annals – which was set in 1985-86 with wins over the final eight contests. 
 
The Panthers also won the opening two games of 1986-87 – with that 10-game stretch of wins ranking as the longest in the FIU record book.
 
The 8-1 start surpasses the 2018-19 squad, which opened the season with wins in seven of their first eight games overall.
 
FIU held off a feisty Stetson squad that hung around for the majority of the contest despite holding the lead for a span of just 37 seconds.  The Panthers opened up some breathing room with a 16-1 run over a nine-minute stretch in the first half that saw it hold Stetson without a field goal for a total of 8:46.
 
Junior Tevin Brewer led the way in the victory with a game-high 22 points – the third consecutive game and fourth overall this season in which he has scored at least 22.  Brewer was key down the stretch as he recorded each of FIU's final nine points to close out the seven-point victory.
 
Joining Brewer in double-figures was Eric Lovett with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting and Javuante Hawkins, who notched 12 off the bench.
 
Stetson was able to keep it close with its play on the glass as it led the rebounding battle 45-28 and outscored the Panthers in second-chance points 16-2.  The Hatters were able to pull down 15 offensive rebounds in defeat.
 
Once again, the Panthers put together a solid shooting effort by connecting on 45.1 percent of their attempts (23-of-51). FIU hit on 10-of-28 attempts from beyond the arc and forced 16 Stetson turnovers.
 
Stetson was paced in defeat by Mahamadou Diawara, who finished with 12 points.  The Hatters were cold from deep as they managed to make just 2-of-21 three-point attempts.
 
Both teams struggled from the charity stripe, with FIU making 16-of-27 and Stetson hitting 13-of-22.
 
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers hit the road for a pair of games beginning with a showdown at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Dec. 11 in a 1 p.m. ET tip.
 
FIU will then travel to battle Jacksonville State on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. ET. 
 
Both games will be televised live on ESPN+.
 
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUHoops), Twitter (@FIUHoops), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensBball) for all the latest Men's Basketball news.
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.