FIU Athletics

Untimely injuries have limited his effectiveness...A proven scorer who enters the season physically fit and healthy...Wants to finish his FIU career on a positive note... Expected to do a lot of things well to help this team win.

Medical Redshirt (2003-04): Began the year impressively but a back injury, which ultimately required surgery, ended his season after only six games...was off to a tremendous start averaging 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game...picked up a pair of blocked shots...in his final game of the season, put up a double-double of a team-high 20 points and 11 rebounds against Miami (12/6)...also had a 20-point outing against North Florida (11/29)...scored 14-or-more points in five of the six games he played...hit six-of-18 three-point attempts and his .333 conversion percentage was tied for second-best on the team...nine made free throws vs. Florida Atlantic (12/1) tied the team's season high...converted 73.3-percent of his total free throw attempts on the season...made seven steals, five of those coming against North Florida.

As a Junior (2002-03): Despite various nagging injuries, played in 25 games and scored over 300 points, finishing second on the team and 19th best in the Sun Belt Conference...tied for the team lead with 25 three-point baskets and ranked second in field goals (102), free throws (85), blocked shots (10) and steals (44)...ranked fourth on the team with 96 rebounds...his 1.76 steals per game was sixth best in league play...scored a season-high 25 points against Arkansas-Little Rock (2/8), one of seven games of 20-or-more points on the year...best all-around game may have come in the SBC Tournament against New Orleans (3/7) when he scored 21 points, grabbed six rebounds, made two blocks and four steals against the Privateers...came back in the semi-final game vs. Western Kentucky (3/8) with a season-best nine rebounds...his 2.17 offensive rebounds against league opponents finished 12th best in the Sun Belt...collected a season-high five steals to go along with 22 points and seven boards in the double-overtime loss against North Texas (1/5)...scored 19 points in his collegiate debut versus Morris Brown (11/23) that included 13 made free throws in 15 attempts?both season highs...FIU's high scorer nine times that season.

At Southeastern CC: Played for Golden Panthers associate head coach Joe O’Brien for two seasons at Southeastern...named one of the top-six second guards by the Ballplayers CC Report...in 17 games as a sophomore, averaged 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists...before being hampered by injuries in the second half of his freshman season, Matias averaged 12.6 points and four rebounds.

Prep and Personal Data: Starter on the Dominican National Team that placed fourth in the World Games in 2001...Averaged 30 points, four assists and six rebounds at Miami Christian High School during his senior year...led his team to the Florida High School State Championship that season under coach Art Alvarez...born October 26, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic...son of Nelson Matias and Daysi Pujols...married to former Golden Panther volleyball player Debra Amundson...the couple is expecting their first child in December...Liberal Studies major.

Matias’ FIU Career Highs
Points: 25 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock, 2/8/03
Rebounds: 11 at Miami, 12/6/03
Assists: 3, twice, last at Florida Atlantic, 12/1/03
Steals: 5, twice, last vs. North Florida, 11/29/03
Blocked Shots: 2 vs. New Orleans, 3/7/03
Minutes: 37 vs. Arkansas State, 2/6/03
Field Goals: 10 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock, 2/8/03
Field Goal Attempts: 18 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock, 2/8/03
3-Point FG: 3, four times, last vs. Quinnipiac, 11/23/03
3-Point FG Attempts: 7 vs. Duquesne, 12/28/02
Free Throws: 13 vs. Morris Brown, 11/23/02
Free Throw Attempts: 15 vs. Morris Brown, 11/23/02