MIAMI — FIU's men's basketball program looks for its second-straight Conference USA (CUSA) win at home on Saturday evening, hosting UTEP at 6 p.m. inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
The Panthers (6-11, 1-1 CUSA) defeated New Mexico State (7-10, 1-1 CUSA) in their CUSA home opener, 77-67. Javaunte Hawkins, Dashon Gittens and Arturo Dean each scored in double-digits for FIU. As a team, the Panthers made 13 threes, their second-most in a game this season.
Hawkins, who went 5-for-6 from deep, now ranks atop the CUSA charts and 25th nationally in three-point shooting percentage at 42.6 percent. Dean had 11 points and just one steal, but maintained his place as the national leader in both steals (67) and steals per game (3.9).
SCOUTING UTEP
The Miners (9-7, 0-1) suffered a 63-53 defeat to NMSU in Las Cruces in their CUSA opener. UTEP enters this tilt in search of its first road win, starting the season 0-4.
Leading scorer Tae Hardy had 21 points in that contest, but the Miners shot just 5-for-19 as a team from distance and 14-for-21 from the free throw line. UTEP is a well-rounded team that ranks fifth in both points allowed and points scored in CUSA.
The Panthers and Miners are two of the nation's best in forcing turnovers as FIU ranks fourth nationally and UTEP ranks second nationally.
