MIAMI - FIU's men's basketball program rings in the New Year with its first Conference USA (CUSA) tilt, taking on Jacksonville State in a road contest on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. ET.
The Panthers (5-10) take on the Gamecocks (8-7) on the road to begin their 2024 CUSA schedule. FIU enters this match-up following a 96-92 defeat in overtime at Utah Tech on Saturday, Dec. 30.
Jax State is in the midst of a four-game winning streak, riding some momentum into its CUSA schedule. The Gamecocks also fell to Utah Tech earlier this season, suffered a 81-79 defeat in OT at home on Nov. 11. Jax State also took on mutual opponent Tarleton State and defeated TSU on the road 65-62 on Dec. 18.
Javaunte Hawkins delivered several clutch baskets for FIU, including a long heave which sent the game to OT and landed on SportsCenter's top-10 plays, on his way to a career-high 27 points in the defeat at Utah Tech. Hawkins is enjoying an outstanding senior season with career-high averages of 11.6 ppg and a three-point percentage of 41.5 percent.
The veteran guard has already doubled his scoring output from last season and is approaching his career-highs in three-pointers made and field goals made less than half way through the season. Hawkins 41.5 percent from deep is the best in CUSA and his 2.6 three-pointers per game are third-best.
Jaidon Lipscomb continues to provide an offensive spark as well, having scored in double-digits in each of FIU's last five games. Lipscomb started for the first time this season and played 34 minutes in the loss at Utah Tech. The junior guard currently leads the Panthers with his 48.8 percent shooting from deep.
Arturo Dean has show to be the do-it-all player for FIU in his sophomore season, following being named the 2022-23 CUSA Freshman of the Year. Dean currently leads the nation in overall steals (61) and steals per game (4.1). He also leads FIU in scoring, rebounding and assists. His 4.6 assists per game are second-best in CUSA.
SCOUTING JAX STATE
The Gamecocks, like the Panthers' Hawkins, also have a premier sharpshooter in KyKY Tandy. Tandy ranks fourth in three-point percentage (39.3) in CUSA and first in three-pointers made per game (2.9).
Additionally, Tandy is the top-scorer in the conference with 18.4 ppg. He is the Gamecocks only double-digit scorer. As a team, Jax State is strong on the defensive and rebounding ends, allowing just 62.4 ppg (second-best in CUSA) and grabbing 38.1 rebounds per game (third-best in CUSA).
This tilt will feature the league's third-ranked offense (FIU, 77.9 ppg) against the league's second-best defense. One of the more interesting themes to play out will be Jax State's third-ranked rebounding output to FIU's 34.5 rebounds per game, last in CUSA.
