MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU men's basketball team eyes its third straight Conference USA victory after dropping Charlotte and UAB last week, as the Panthers host current C-USA leader FAU for a big rivalry matchup inside the Ocean Convocation Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
 
Wednesday, Jan. 11 vs. FAU (14-1, 4-0 C-USA)

• Time / Site: 7:30 p.m. at Ocean Bank Convocation Center
• TV: ESPN+ (AJ Ricketts and Matt McCall)
• Radio: FIU3932 Sports (Jonathan Mayer)
• Live Stats
• Tickets
• Game Notes: FIU | FAU

 
FIU (8-7, 2-2 C-USA) closes its three-game homestand with FAU on Wednesday, as the Owls enter the Ocean Bank Convocation Center at the top of the C-USA with a 4-0 league mark while currently holding the nation's second-longest win streak at 13 games. Additionally, the Owls are one of just six DI teams with one loss, as FAU received 33 votes in the AP Top 25 and 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll this week.
 
The Panthers are riding a two-game win streak after picking up their first wins since 2020 over Charlotte and UAB and are currently 8-2 on their home court, including having won the past four straight at home.
 
Through 10 home contests this season, FIU averages 79.8 points on 49.7 percent shooting, including an average of 7.5 threes at 31.6 percent clip, while exceling defensively with 10.1 steals and 17.8 forced turnovers when playing inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
Sophomore Denver Jones and freshman Arturo Dean were tabbed the Conference USA Player and Freshman of the Week, respectively, for their performances over FIU's two massive wins last week – seeing Jones average 24.5 ppg and Dean average 15.5 ppg over last week's contests.
 
Overall, Jones ranks second amongst the Conference USA in points per game (19.2) and field goal percentage (53.5%), while Dean ranks second on the squad in scoring (12.3 ppg) and third in the C-USA in field goal percentage (48.5%), steals (32) and steals per game (2.1).
 
Additionally, Jones went a career-best 11-for-11 at the free-throw line in FIU's 90-87 win over the Blazers, seeing Jones sit 27^th in the nation in free-throw percentage (88.9%).
 
Freshman Dashon Gittens corralled the winner with 1.2 seconds left in Saturday's overtime thriller against UAB, as the Hartford, Conn., native sits third on the squad in scoring at 7.8 ppg on 48.4 percent shooting and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Graduate forward Nick Guadarrama came alive in Saturday's win over the Blazers, dominating with a season-high 19 points, including burying 5-of-8 from 3-point range, five rebounds and two assists. The performance marked Guadarrama's first double-figure outing this season, though, the forward has been efficient through Conference USA action with 9.8 ppg on 46.9 percent shooting overall and 41.2 percent from deep (7-for-17) in league games.
 
The Panthers continue to excel defensively, sitting 22^nd in the NCAA for turnovers forced per game (17.2) and 24^th for steals per game (9.4).
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Panthers fell in Boca, 79-53, on Dec. 17, 2022, as Denver Jones and Mohamed Sanogo led the squad with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
The Owls have won the last five matchups, as a win Wednesday would mark FIU's first over FAU since Feb. 8, 2020 (66-59).
 
UP NEXT
FIU travels to Bowling Green, Ky., slated to face off with Western Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 14. Tip-off is slated for a 7 p.m. ET start 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.