MIAMI, Fla. — FIU's men's basketball program hosts Louisiana Tech for a Conference USA (CUSA) showdown on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
The Panthers (7-14, 2-4 CUSA) look to maintain their unblemished record at home in CUSA play, hosting Louisiana Tech (15-6, 5-1 CUSA).
FIU downed New Mexico State and UTEP in dramatic fashion to open their CUSA slate. The Panthers look to regain their form after three-straight defeats on the road. FIU begins a stretch of 6-of-8 CUSA games at home after four of its first six games were on the road.
The Panthers enter this matchup following, most recently, a defeat at Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Jan. 27. FIU struggled over the final eight minutes in that tilt, being outscored 20-5 to end the game.
SCOUTING LA TECH
The Bulldogs have ripped off five-straight CUSA wins and now are atop the league standings with a 5-1 record. La Tech has been especially formidable at home, sporting an 11-0 record in Ruston.
Most recently, La Tech defeated both UTEP and New Mexico State at home in convincing fashion, winning both games by double-digits.
Isaiah Crawford leads the way offensive for the Bulldogs with his 16.0 ppg. Daniel Batcho has also been excellent in the front court, posting an average of 14.7 ppg and 10.4 rpg. Crawford currently ranks second in CUSA in scoring while Batcho is the conference's top rebounder.
Tahlik Chavez also provides a scoring punch with 53 made three-pointers, averaging 41.8 percent from deep.
