MIAMI – FIU men's basketball (7-4) has one of its biggest games in a long time as it hosts preseason CUSA favorite Liberty (8-3) on Sunday to kick off conference play. It's the Panthers' final game of the 2025 calendar year.

The Inbound
The Panthers have won five of their last six and back-to-back games headed into the CUSA campaign, knocking off LIU and Trinity in their last two. They set season highs in points (121) and threes (13) in the dominant 121-70 win over TCJ Monday, seeing eight players score in double digits.

Liberty, the defending CUSA champions and overwhelming preseason favorites, has lived up to the hype to start the season. The Flames are 8-3 with big wins over FAU and Dayton during their non-conference slate.

Series History
FIU and Liberty have met six times overall and four times since the Flames joined Conference USA, with FIU going 2-4 against the squad from Lynchburg in their six meetings. Jeremy Ballard is 1-3.

The teams met twice last year, with the 28-7 Flames dominating FIU in both games - 82-59 in Miami (Jan. 25) and 58-45 in Lynchburg (Feb. 22). In that first game, Liberty's Taelon Peter had 21 points off the bench.

The last FIU win was during the 2023-24 season, and the only in CUSA history for the team. On the strength of 24 from Arturo Dean and 20 from Javaunte Hawkins, the Panthers toppled Liberty 76-71 on 2/22/24.

Notable Storylines
- Brit Harris needs only five points to reach 1,000 in his career.
- Eight different Panthers scored in double figures in the last game, including 19 from Corey Stephenson, who is third in the conference averaging 18.1 points per game.
- Julian Mackey continues to shine off the bench, averaging 14.7 points per game through 11 games this season. he's scored in double figures in all but one contest, adding another 16 against TCJ.
- Eric Dibami is coming into his own, recording his first career double-double against TCJ (12 points and 12 rebounds). He's scored 10 or more points in four of his last five games.
- Thiago Sucatzky shined bright against TCJ, having a career day of 15 points, seven assists and three steals.
- The Panthers are first in Conference USA in assists per game, blocks per game and steals per game.
- Jeremy Ballard is four wins from breaking the program record set by Rich Walker.

UP NEXT

FIU has off until Friday, heading into January for a battle with New Mexico State at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

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.