MIAMI — FIU's men's basketball program is back on the road this week in Conference USA (CUSA) play, taking on Jax State on Thursday, Jan. 30. 

The Panthers (7-13, 1-6 CUSA) match up with the Gamecocks (13-7, 5-2 CUSA) at Jax State's Pete Mathews Coliseum on Thursday evening at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 30 at Jacksonville State

Time/Site: 7 p.m. ET | Pete Mathews Coliseum

Series History: FIU leads 5-3 (1-2 in CUSA era)

TV: ESPN+

FIU will have its first game on the road in 18 days follow a three-game home stand. The Panthers look to snap a five-game losing steak as they take on Jax State, whom FIU downed in the opening round of the 2024 CUSA Tournament. 

FIU has been strong defensively on the inside, leading CUSA in blocked shots per game with 4.9. Individually Vianney Salatchoum has been a force in the middle with 2.0 blocks per game, second in CUSA and 25th-nationally. 

Jayden Brewer has been the Panthers' top option, scoring 13.9 points per game, of which ranks 11th in all of CUSA. Jonathan Aybar has also been strong offensively of late and is approaching 1,000 career points, sitting at 916 points.

The Panthers fell in both of its regular season match-ups to the Gamecocks last season, losing to Jax State 70-63 on the road and 77-75 at home. 

SCOUTING JAX STATE

Jax State enters the game riding a four-game winning streak, which included a road sweep of UTEP and New Mexico State last weekend. 

Jaron Pierre, Jr. leads the Gamecock attack as the conference's top scorer with 21.1 points per game. As a team, Jax State is CUSA's best free throw shooting team, making 77.3 percent of its free throw attempts. 

The Gamecocks are also one of the conference's best rebounding teams, gabbing 40.5 rebounds per game and limiting opponents to 32.4 rebounds per game, both of which are second-best in CUSA. 

Jax State is yet to lose at home this season, sporting a 7-0 record inside the Pete Mathews Coliseum. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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