MIAMI– Eric Dibami, who won the honor in week 14, has been tabbed Conference USA Freshman of the Week for the second week in a row, the league announced on Monday.
Dibami, who also claimed the honor in week 8, now has three to his credit after averaging 13.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg and shooting 57.9 percent from the field in the Panthers' split of Delaware and Louisiana Tech over the weekend, making five or more field goals in both games.
In game one, Dibami scored 15 points on 6-11 shooting, coming down with a season high 13 rebounds, with six of them on the offensive glass. In a career-best 37 minutes, Dibami notched his sixth-career double-double, moving him into a tie with FIU Hall of Famer Dwight Stewart for the third-most in a single season by a freshman. His 13 boards in the game were the most by an FIU freshman since 2021, and also added a pair of steals to his total.
Against LA Tech, Dibami continued his excellent stretch with his fourth straight game in double figures, scoring 12 points on 5-8 shooting and adding another eight boards to his total.
Dibami is believed to be the first Panther to earn Freshman of the Week honors three times in a single season, and is currently averaging 9.3 points and 7.0 rebounds during his rookie campaign in Miami.