MIAMI, Fla. – The FIU men's basketball locks in for its final two home contests in Miami this week, opening the stretch with UTEP on Thursday, Feb. 23, for a 7 p.m. matchup inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
Thursday, Feb. 23 vs. UTEP (12-15, 5-11 C-USA)

• Time / Site: 7 p.m. at Ocean Bank Convocation Center
• TV: ESPN+ (AJ Ricketts and Anne O'Neil)
• Radio: FIU3932 Sports (Jonathan Mayer)
• Live Stats
• Tickets
• Game Notes: FIU | UTEP

 
With the regular season dwindling down to its final games, the Panthers enter this week poised to finish out strong with a pair of pivotal home matchups inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. FIU sits 11-5 at home this season, as a win would match the most wins secured at home under head coach Jeremy Ballard (12, 2018-19).
 
FIU welcomes UTEP on Thursday (Feb. 23) and UTSA on Saturday (Feb. 25), as the Panthers fell to the Miners in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 19, 81-61. Despite the loss, FIU bounced back with its first road win at UTSA just days later, 77-72, to rattle off a four-game streak.
 
Last time out, FIU slipped in tough outcome at Middle Tennessee, squandering a big first-half lead en route to seeing the Blue Raiders storm back for a 69-58 win in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 
FIU standout freshman Arturo Dean set the single-season steals record by a freshman in the contest, passing FIU legend Carlos Arroyo for the record with 67 steals. Additionally, Dean paced the Panthers with 15 points and three assists in the loss.
 
Dean has had an exceptional rookie campaign for the Panthers, averaging 11.8 ppg and leading the C-USA in steals (67, 2.5/g) – which slots him sixth and eight nationally, respectively. Additionally, Dean sits on the cusp of advancing through other FIU freshman statistical records, currently holding the third most assists by a freshman (88), eighth most points (318) and ninth most field goals made (134).
 
Graduate guard John Williams Jr. continues to step up finishing in double figures for the second straight game with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while Javaunte Hawkins also pitched in 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from deep in FIU's last contest.
 
FIU's 16.2 forced turnovers per game (21^st NCAA) and 8.8 steals per game (25^th NCAA) both rank second amongst the C-USA and has been pivotal factors in all seven of FIU's league wins.
 
UP NEXT
FIU hosts UTSA inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Saturday, Feb. 25, for Senior Night. 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.