MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU men's basketball team opens Conference USA action this weekend, traveling to Boca Raton to face in-state rival FAU inside Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena on Saturday, Dec. 17.
 
Saturday, Dec. 17 at FAU (9-1)

• Time / Site: 2 p.m. at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena
• TV: CUSA.tv
• Radio: FIU Radio (AJ Ricketts)
• Live Stats

 
The Panthers aim to bounce back in the win column and snap a three-game skid heading into Saturday's clash with the Owls, as FAU swept the season series last year while riding a four-game streak against FIU.
 
FIU is 3-1 in Conference USA openers under head coach Jeremy Ballard, as the Panthers last victory over FAU came in Boca Raton, 66-59, on Feb. 8, 2020.
 
The Panthers search for their first road win of the season on Saturday, as FIU has struggled in opposing gyms this season with an 0-3 mark coming off a 71-59 loss at Howard on Tuesday (Dec. 13).
 
Sophomore guard Denver Jones (18.1 ppg) continues to shine for FIU, having led the Panthers with 21 points at Howard, while classmate Petar Krivokapic found his stroke for a season-highs of 13 points on 3-of-7 shooting from distance, five rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes off the bench.
 
Krivokapic led the squad from beyond the arc at 42.5 percent last season (37-for-87) and certainly looks to build off the momentum to help spark and aid FIU's shooting woes this season – shooting just 29.5 percent from 3-point range on the year.
 
FIU continues to get a wealth of contributions from its bench, pitching in 32.3 points on average, highlighted by efforts from freshman Arturo Dean (12.4 ppg), sophomore forward Mohamed Sanogo (7.7 ppg; 3.4 rpg) and graduate guard John Williams Jr. (7.1 ppg).
 
The Panthers have excelled in disrupting teams defensively with 9.8 steals per game (25^th NCAA) on 17.4 turnovers forced per game (28^th NCAA). Additionally, FIU is at its best when converting turnovers and steals intro transition, averaging 15.3 fast break points per game (32^nd NCAA).
 
SCOUTING FAU
FAU enters conference play with a full head of steam, riding an eight-game winning streak. One more win will set the program's longest winning streak of all-time, which was in 2010-11 and 1988-89. The Owls have also won the last seven games at home, dating back to March 5 last year against FIU, the last home game of the 2021-22 season. The Owls are currently ranked 13th in the NCAA Net Rankings and are off to the best start in school history at 9-1.
 
The Owls are led by Alijah Martin at 14.6 pints and 5.4 rebounds, followed by Michael Forrest (12.1 ppg) and Vladislav Goldin (10.7 ppg). Forrest paces the team with 2.8 assists.
 
UP NEXT
FIU returns to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a nonconference tilt against Incarnate Word on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is slated for a 7 p.m. start to be broadcast on CUSA.tv.
 
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.