MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU men's basketball team returns to action in Miami this Saturday night, hosting Bryant inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a 7 p.m. nonconference clash.
 
Saturday, Nov. 18 vs. Bryant (3-1)

• Time / Site: 7 p.m. at Ocean Bank Convocation Center
• TV: ESPN+ (Alejandro Gonzalez and Matt McCall)
• Live Stats
• Tickets
• Series History: First meeting
• Game Notes: FIU | Bryant

 
The Panthers (2-1) look to bounce back on their home court this Saturday, hosting a talented and experienced Bryant squad that has come off back-to-back NEC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances while transitioning in its first year competing in the America East conference.
 
Additionally, the Bulldogs are respected amongst the nation as an exceptional mid-major program, ranked 23^rd in the latest Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Top 25 rankings released on Nov. 14.
 
Saturday's contest marks the first all-time meeting between the two programs, as Bryant is coming off an 86-74 loss at FAU on Wednesday night as part of the FAU Paradise Invitational.
 
FIU looks to defend its home court after a tough loss at NC State Tuesday night, in which sophomore Denver Jones (18.0 ppg) led the team in scoring with 19 points, followed by a season-high 14-point performance from graduate guard John Williams Jr. (11.3 ppg), to pace the Panthers.
 
Jones has impressed through his first three contests of his sophomore campaign, sitting third amongst the Conference USA in scoring, while ranking fifth among the league in field goal percentage (64.3%) and hitting 40 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc (4-of-10).
 
Williams Jr. has additionally been solid for the Panthers through his first three games donning the Blue and Gold, as the Augusta, Georgia, native has reached double figures in each game behind 64.0 percent shooting from the floor.
 
Despite not quite having found its touch from three yet at 30.0 percent on the season (18-of-60), the Panthers have been lethal and efficient scoring inside the paint, including scoring in transition, as FIU leads the C-USA at 51.8 percent shooting overall en route to averaging 82.0 points per game (3^rd C-USA).
 
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.
 
FIU's depth extends far past its starting five, seeing the Panthers rank eighth in the nation and lead the C-USA in bench points (42.6/g) behind double-figure efforts from freshman guard Arturo Dean (13.0 ppg) and solid contributions from sophomore forward Mohamed Sanogo (7.0 ppg / 2.7 rpg / 1.3 bpg) and freshman guard Jayden Brewer (5.3 ppg).
 
Dean continues to affect the game in multiple ways for the Panthers, though, shining defensively as the C-USA's leader in steals (9) and steals per game (3.0/g) – which is also good for 21^st in the NCAA.
 
Sanogo reached a new career-high for the second consecutive outing, finishing with nine points on Tuesday nights, while Brewer pitched in seven points in just six minutes of action.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers host the FIU MTE next week, welcoming visiting Stony Brook and Eastern Washington to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Nov. 23-27. The Panthers open against Stony Brook on Wednesday, Nov. 23, for a 7 p.m. matchup prior to facing Eastern Washington on Sunday, Nov. 27, for a 7 p.m. tip inside the OBCC.
 
Stony Brook and Eastern Washington will meet for a neutral site contest inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Friday, Nov. 25, for a 5:30 p.m. tilt.
 
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.