CORAL GABLES, Fla. – FIU men's basketball (5-3), on the heels of its first three-game winning streak since 2022-23, renews its city rivalry with Miami (9-2) on Tuesday night, traveling to the Watsco Center for the first time since the 2023-24 season. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. and will be televised on ACCNX.

The Inbound
The Panthers have won three in a row for the first time since 2022-23 after a dominant 88-65 win over Jacksonville on Dec. 6. Corey Stephenson was named CUSA Player of the Week after this game, the first for the Panthers since 2023-24.

Miami is shooting the lights out of the ball under new head coach Jai Lucas, entering play at 9-2 and hitting at a 51.7 percent clip from the field. They rolled ULM in their previous game 104-79.

Series History
Miami and FIU have played frequently throughout the teams' histories, meeting 12 times since FIU became a Division I basketball team. Miami holds an 11-1 all-time record in the series, including 9-1 in Coral Gables, and has won seven straight meetings.

The lone FIU win came in Coral Gables in the season opener of the 1992-93 season with the Panthers taking down the Hurricanes 72-64 on 12/1/1992. The Panthers shot 24-46 (.521) from the field and had five players score in double figures, including 14 from Hall of Famer and all-time leading scorer Dwight Stewart. Junior Chuck Stuart had a double-double, going 6-8 from the field for 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. FIU went on to go 20-10 and win the TAAC regular season championship that year, while Miami only won ten games.

The previous meeting was on 11/13/23 at Watsco. FIU held a 12-point second half lead, but Miami went on a strong run and won 86-80. Former Panther Arturo Dean had 19 points and six assists in the loss.

Notable Storylines
- After 12 points against Jacksonville, Brit Harris needs only 19 to reach 1,000 in his career.
- Corey Stephenson was named CUSA POTW, the Panthers' first since 2023-24, after averaging 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.0 assists all while shooting 64.2 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three.
- Eric Dibami had a breakout game against Jacksonville, going for a career-high 14 points, five rebounds, five steals and three blocks. He's the first Panther (since at least 2004-05) to do that, and fourth NCAA freshman to do that this season. Miami assistant coach Andrew Moran was heavily involved in getting Dibami to play basketball in the United States.
- Julian Mackey continues to shine off the bench, averaging 13.4 points per game through eight games this season. he's scored in double figures in all but one contest.
- The Panthers are 17th in the nation in blocks per game at 5.5.
- Jeremy Ballard is now six wins from breaking the program record set by Rich Walker.

UP NEXT

FIU comes back to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a tilt with LIU on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.

TICKETS
For more information on FIU men's basketball tickets, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUHoops), Twitter (@FIUHoops), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensBball) for all the latest Men's Basketball news.

General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.