MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU men's basketball team focuses in for a pivotal Conference USA road matchup this Saturday, traveling to face Western Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 14, inside E.A. Diddle Arena for a 7 p.m. ET tip.
 
Saturday, January 14 at Western Kentucky (10-6, 2-3 C-USA)

• Time / Site: 7 p.m. ET at E.A. Diddle Arena
• TV: ESPN+ (Nate Gatter and Jay Walton)
• Radio: FIU Radio (AJ Ricketts)
• Live Stats
• Game Notes: FIU | WKU
• Series History: WKU leads 36-10

 
FIU prepares for another crucial C-USA matchup this weekend after winning two of its last three in having taken two of the league's heavyweights wire-to-wire in a victory over UAB and overtime battle against league-leading FAU that fell short on Thursday, 77-73.

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 FIU's won three of its last five contests, having cleaned up its turnovers over the five-game stretch (11.6/g) while slightly warming up from three at 32.7 percent (32-of-98).
 
Conference USA Player of the Week Denver Jones has been superb for the Panthers, averaging 24.5 points over the last five games with five straight 20-point performances, and has emerged as a top-tier scoring threat in the nation sitting 29^th in the NCAA in points per game (19.6).  Additionally, Jones leads the C-USA and is 31^st in the nation in free-throw percentage (88.7%), while ranking second in the league in scoring and field goal percentage (52.6%).
 
Nick Guadarrama's found his stroke for the Panthers, averaging 9.8 points over the last five games while connecting on 8-of-20 (40.0%) from beyond the arc to notch consecutive double-figure performances with a season-best 19 against UAB (Jan. 9) and 14 versus FAU on Thursday (Jan. 11).  
 
Sophomore guard Petar Krivokapic has upped his contributions and minutes as well, shooting 42.1 percent from deep range over the past five games (8-of-19), while also recording 4.6 rebounds over the stretch – most recently pulling down a career-best nine board against the Owls.
 
C-USA Freshman of the Week Arturo Dean continues to pace the scoring load, averaging 12.6 points over the last five, including netting double figures in each of the last three contests. The freshman has also paced FIU defensively with 31 steals on the season (2.3/g) – ranking him third amongst the Conference USA and 22^nd in the nation.
 
Overall, FIU's 9.1 steals per game have contributed to its defensive prowess in speeding teams up and turning them over, sitting 22^nd in the nation in forced turnovers per game (17.0/g).
 
Conversely, the turnovers allow the Panthers to capitalize in transition with their athleticism, slated second in the league with an average of 13.4 fast break points per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Panthers have dropped Western Kentucky in their last matchup in Miami on Jan. 22, 2022, seeing FIU come away with an 86-83 victory inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
The Hilltoppers hold the all-time series edge (36-10), while holding a 17-4 edge in Bowling Green, Ky.  
 
UP NEXT
FIU returns to Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup against North Texas on Monday, Jan. 16. Tip-off is slated for a 7 p.m. 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.