MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU men's basketball team embarks on its first road test of the young 2022-23 season on Tuesday evening (Nov. 15), as the Panthers travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, for a matchup against the ACC's North Carolina State at PNC Arena.
 
Tuesday, Nov. 15 at NC State (2-0, 0-0 ACC)

• Time / Site: 9 p.m. at PNC Arena
• TV: RSN / Bally Sports Sun (Eric Collins and Brian Oliver)
• Radio: Mixlr.com/FIUAthletics
• Live Stats
• Series History: NC State leads 3-0

 
After opening the 2022-23 campaign with a pair of double-figure wins last week over Houston Christian and Florida National, the Panthers will encounter its first ACC opponent since 2018 – which coincidentally was also against the Wolfpack in head coach Jeremy Ballard's first season at the helm of the program in an 86-77 loss on Nov. 13, 2018.
 
A win over the Wolfpack would mark FIU's first win over a Power 5 opponent since a 69-62 win over Michigan on Nov. 13, 1998. (** FIU defeated Florida State, 65-60, on Dec. 12, 2004, though, the 2004-05 season's wins were later vacated due to NCAA sanctions)
 
The Panthers have shown their offensive prowess and scoring will through two contests, averaging 86.0 points behind four double-figure scorers in sophomore Denver Jones (17.5 ppg), freshman Arturo Dean (16.5 ppg), junior Javaunte Hawkins (13.0 ppg) and graduate guard John Williams Jr. (10.0 ppg).
 
Jones, a native of New Market, Ala., has been highly efficient for the Panthers, shooting 68.8 percent from the field while also cashing 91.7 percent of his looks from the free-throw line (11-of-12) as the C-USA free-throw percentage leader last season.
 
Additionally, FIU has developed its reserves to provide healthy contributions across the board, ranking seventh in the NCAA behind an average of 45 bench points per game.
 
The Panthers came alive from beyond the arc in last week's win over Florida National, burying 10-of-26 from 3-point range (38.5%) following a 3-for-16 outing (18.8%) against Houston Christian on Nov. 7.
 
FIU set a single season record for 3-pointers made in 2022 (308), while finishing 15^th in the nation in total threes and leading the Conference USA in threes per game (9.6) – which also marked the C-USA's 12^th-highest mark in league history.
 
Sophomore forward Mohamed Sanogo (6.0 ppg) and freshman wing Jayden Brewer (5.0 ppg) both reached new career-highs of eights points off the bench in FIU's 95-74 win over Florida National on Thursday (Nov. 10), as Brewer tallied three steals and two assists while Sanogo added four rebounds and two blocks.
 
Sanogo has been a presence defensively with four blocks for the Panthers, which also places him second among the Conference USA (2.0 blks/g).
 
Defensively, FIU's full-court pressure and aggressive mentality has resulted in an average of 20.5 turnovers forced per game (30^th in NCAA) behind 10.5 steals per game.
 
Arturo Dean has made an immediate impact on both sides of the ball off the bench for the Panthers, leading the C-USA with 3.5 steals per game – which also ranks 22^nd nationally – while ranking second amongst the league in total field goals (14) and fourth in points per game.

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SCOUTING NC STATE:
 
NC State moved to 2-0 on the season with a 73-67 win over Campbell on Friday night. The Pack never trailed in the second half and extended its lead to nine points on multiple occasions but could never break open the game. Sophomore guard Terquavion Smith led NC State with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting. He has now led the Pack in scoring in both games this season and for his career, has led NC State in scoring in 14 of his 34 career games.
 
Graduate transfer Jack Clark stuffed the stat sheet on Friday night, posting a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while also setting a career-high with five steals. Clark leads the ACC with eight steals and ranks and leads the Pack and ranks sixth in the ACC with an average of 8.5 rebounds per game. Jarkel Joiner was clutch late in the win over Campbell. The transfer from Ole Miss scored eight consecutive points for NC State late in the second half and finished with 17 for the game.
 
UP NEXT
FIU returns to Miami to host the visiting Bryant Bulldogs at Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Saturday, Nov. 19. The matchup is slated for a 7 p.m. tip to be broadcast 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.