MIAMI -- FIU's men's basketball program takes its two-game winning streak in Conference USA (CUSA) on the road this week for a mid-week matchup at Liberty on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. ET.

The Panthers (7-11, 2-1 CUSA) held serve with wins over New Mexico State and UTEP in their first two home conference games of the season. Against UTEP, FIU erased a 16-point deficit with eight minutes to go to pull off a dramatic comeback win in front of a raucous crowd at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Javaunte Hawkins continues to impress in his senior season, having recently eclipsed career highs in points, field goals made, three-pointers made and free throws made just 18 games into 2023-24. Hawkins is currently the CUSA leader in three-point percentage (43.9) and ranks third in CUSA with 50 made triples. 

Mohamed Sanogo had a solid game for FIU off the bench against UTEP with 12 points and will need to continue to make an impact with Jonathan Aybar out for FIU. Arturo Dean maintained his status as the NCAA leader in both steals and steals per game with five steals against UTEP. 

Dean is on pace to break the FIU record for steals in a season by a wide margin and holds a measurable advantage among his NCAA peers as well. The Panthers are riding their first win streak of the season and will be in search of their first true road win since the win at Houston Christian on Nov. 15, 2023. Three of FIU's five road losses have come by seven points or less. 

SCOUTING LIBERTY

The Flames come into this tilt in search of their first CUSA win following three-straight defeats to Western Kentucky, Jacksonville State and Louisiana Tech.  Liberty, who was expected to be one of the top CUSA teams, sports a 6-2 record at home and will enter this matchup looking for a win to spark their CUSA season. 

Liberty will have a two-game weekend, taking on FIU and then hosting Sam Houston on Saturday, Jan. 20. For the Panthers, this is their sole CUSA matchup this weekend before they travel to Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky next weekend.

The Flames are led by Kyle Rode, who sits eighth in CUSA with 13.4 ppg and is second in three-pointers made (51). Currently, Liberty has four players in the top-18 in scoring in CUSA. 

As a team, the Flames are first in CUSA in three-pointers made per game (10.7) and second in percentage (36.0). This will also be a matchup of the leagues top-two offenses in overall scoring output.

Fans can expect a high-scoring matchup between these two sides that may come down to which team has the final possession. A key factor for the Panthers will be limiting Liberty's three-point barrage. FIU is giving up the highest three-point percentage to opponents in CUSA currently and will need to put a special emphasis on defending the three-point line to win this matchup. 

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