EL PASO – Beginning in El Paso, FIU men's basketball (9-9, 2-5 CUSA) starts its two-game west tour, battling UTEP (6-12, 2-5) for the final time as conference foes before the Miners depart for the Mountain West. The Panthers and UTEP will battle at 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday at the Don Haskins Center.

The Inbound
The Panthers are the midst of a four-game losing streak, and 16-game road losing streak, but lost at home on Saturday against Sam Houston. FIU struggled from the field and the line against the Bearkats, shooting just 29.4 percent.

UTEP split its northeast trip, taking down Delaware in the first game and losing at Liberty in the second.

Series History
During the Jeremy Ballard era and overall, UTEP has owned the series, holding a 19-4 record all-time over the Panthers and 3-9 since Ballard took over, but the Panthers won the first meeting in 2025-26.

Using a 47-point surge and dueling double-doubles from Eric Dibami and Hamed Olayinka, FIU beat the Miners 76-64 back on Jan. 4, their last win before the four-game skid.

FIU is just 1-11 at the Don Haskins Center, and the lone win came back on Jan. 23, 2016. On the strength of 20 points from Adrian Diaz and 17, 10 and 6 assists from Daviyon Draper, FIU led from wire-to-wire and beat the Miners. UTEP has won nine straight against FIU at home.

Notable Storylines
- The Panthers and Miners have a few connections across rosters. Mikey Kelvin II and UTEP's CJ Smith were on the roster together last season at Oklahoma State. Corey Stephenson & UTEP's Kaseem Watson played together at CSU Bakersfield in 2023-24.
- Julian Mackey has been in a groove, and continued against the Bearkats. He had 23 points off the bench and knocked down a season-high four threes in the loss, his fourth straight game in double figures.
- Stephenson had 14 points against the Bearkats, and now has scored 10 or more points in all the games he has appeared in.
- To this point in the season, just six players have appeared in all 18 games for FIU, including Olayinka and Ashton Williamson, who have started all 18.
- Eric Dibami missed the last game due to illness. The freshman forward is making a case for CUSA Freshman of the Year, and had a double-double in his last appearance, his fourth.

UP NEXT

FIU takes the short trip to Las Cruces to take on New Mexico State.

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.