MIAMI — FIU's men's basketball program hosts fellow-Florida institution Stetson University on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, tipping off a two-game Holiday Hoops series at home.
The Panthers (4-8) enjoyed a convincing 146-55 victory over Trinity (FL) College in their last contest on Saturday, Dec. 16. FIU will look to start its first winning streak of 2023-24 in this home tilt with Stetson, out of Deland, Fla., just north of Orlando.
Arturo Dean continues to lead the NCAA in steals with 51 overall and an average of 4.25 per game. As a team, FIU's high-pressure style has produced 12.7 steals per game and forced 19.4 turnovers per game, of which rank second and third nationally. Dean also leads CUSA with his 5.1 assists per game and ranks inside the top-ten in the conference in scoring.
Jaidon Lipscomb has produced two consecutive solid scoring outings off the bench for the Panthers, pouring in 17 second-half points at No. 15 FAU and following that with a team-high 23 points against Trinity. The junior made a combined 10-of-14 three-point attempts in those two match-ups and has provided a scoring punch off the bench that could help to fuel FIU as the season progresses.
This is the final stretch of the non-conference slate for FIU as it will take on Maine (Dec. 21) and Utah Tech (Dec. 30) to conclude its non-conference schedule. The Panthers then face off with Jax State on Jan. 6 in Jacksonville, Ala. to open the CUSA schedule.
SCOUTING STETSON
The Hatters of Stetson (6-5), out of the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN), enter this matchup losing three of their last four contests. This will be FIU's third ASUN opponent, all at home, having defeated Kennesaw State and falling to FGCU.
Stetson, like FIU, also is leading the nation in a stat category as the Hatters' 81.9 percent shooting from the free throw line is first in the NCAA. Individually, Stetson's Jalen Blackmon ranks in the top-12 in three-point percentage (47.7) and three-pointers made (42).
The Hatters have had mixed results to start 2023-24, defeating common opponent UCF on its home floor, but also falling by 23 points to Chicago State and Charlotte.
FIU will need to keep Stetson off the free throw line and limit opportunities for Blackmon from distance to win its second-straight game at home.
