FIU vs. Florida A&M - Game Day Central

Teams - FIU Panthers (4-7 overall, 1-2 home); Florida A&M Rattlers (4-9 overall, 0-8 away)
Date - Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013
Time - 7:00 PM ET
Location - Miami, Fla.
Arena - U.S. Century Bank Arena (5,000)
Television - N/A
Twitter - @FIUMensBBall
Facebook - FIU-Mens-Basketball
Live Video Streaming - PantherVision (www.FIUSports.com) (also available via the Official FIU Sports app)
Live Stats - www.FIUSports.com
Records - FIU enters Wednesday’s game with a 4-7 record following a 69-52 loss at Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 29. Florida A&M enters Wednesday’s game with a 4-9 record following a 70-56 loss at Texas Tech on Monday, Dec. 31.
Rankings - FIU is not ranked in either poll. Florida A&M is not ranked in either poll.
FIU Head Coach Richard Pitino (@CoachPitinoFIU) - Coach Pitino (Providence ‘05) enters Wednesday’s contest with a career record of 4-7 (.364 - first season).
FAMU Head Coach Clemon Johnson - Coach Johnson (Florida A&M ‘78) enters Wednesday’s contest with a career record at FAMU of 14-32 (.304 - second season). Coach Johnson has never faced the Panthers.
Series History -Wednesday’s contest will mark the 10th meeting all-time between FIU and Florida A&M with the Panthers trailing the series history, 3-5 (4-5 actual on-court - FIU vacated one game due to NCAA sanctions). The last meeting between the two squads resulted in an 87-82 win for the Panthers on Dec. 22, 2010, in Miami, Fla.
Officials - Announced on Game Day.
FIU Game Notes (PDF)
FIU Media Guide
Purchase Tickets

MIAMI, Florida  --  The FIU men’s basketball team (4-7) kicks off 2013 with a non-conference matchup versus the Florida A&M Rattlers (4-9) on Wednesday, Jan. 2. Game time is set for 7 p.m. from U.S. Century Bank Arena. The game will mark the eighth non-conference contest for the Panthers this season and first at home since the home opener versus Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 17.

FIU is coming off a 69-52 loss at Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Dec. 29, where the Panthers shot just 38.8 percent from the floor and committed 23 turnovers. Defensively, FIU forced 25 Blue Raider turnovers and registered 13 steals, but Middle Tennessee shot 43.4 percent from the floor and out-rebounded FIU, 43-27. Freshman Jerome Frink notched his third double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds versus the Blue Raiders. The loss marked the seventh-straight for the Panthers versus Middle Tennessee and was the team’s third-straight conference loss.

FIU enters this week’s action averaging 67.1 points-per-game (No. 8 in the conference) on 42.0 percent shooting from the floor (No. 4 in the conference). The Panthers have converted 34.5 percent of their shots from 3-point range (No. 4 in the conference) and 68.1 percent of their shots from the free-throw line (No. 7 in the conference). FIU is averaging 8.5 steals-per-game (No. 2 in the conference) and 11.7 assists-per-contest (No. 7 in the conference). The Panthers are allowing 72.2 points-per-game (No. 10 in the conference) as the opposition is shooting 47.2 percent from the floor.

Leading the Panthers in scoring is junior Mailk Smith, who comes into Wednesday’s game averaging 14.5 points-per-game (tied for No. 6 in the conference), shooting 37.2 percent from the floor. The Boston, Mass., native has converted 75.7 percent of his attempts from the free-throw line (No. 8 in the conference) and leads the Sun Belt Conference in 3-point field goals made (3.2 – No. 16 nationally). Junior Tymell Murphy led the Panthers in scoring with 13 points at Middle Tennessee bringing his season average to 13.0 points-per-game (No. 12 in the conference). The Brooklyn, N.Y., native leads the conference and ranks No. 37 nationally in shooting percentage (.570), having made 61-of-107 shot attempts this season. Frink comes into this week’s contest, averaging 10.6 points-per-game (No. 25 in the conference) and 6.8 rebounds-per-contest (No. 7 in the conference). The Jersey City, N.J., native’s team-leading three double-doubles ranks No. 84 nationally. Frink, along with Smith and sophomore Deric Hill, ranks among the conference leaders in steals. Frink and Hill rank tied for 10 in the conference, averaging 1.5 steals-per-game, while Smith ranks No. 14 recording 1.4 steals-per-contest.

Home Sweet Home
After spending nearly the entire month of December on the road, the Panthers return home for a three-game home stand beginning with tonight’s contest with the Florida A&M Rattlers. Entering the 12th game of the season, FIU has tipped off only three times at U.S. Century Bank Arena. With a 1-2 record at home, FIU is averaging more points-per-game (69.3), fewer points allowed (69.7) and a better shooting percentage (.437) than what the Panthers have recorded on the road this season (67.9 ppg, 72.7 ppg allowed, .404 FG PCT).

Versus the MEAC
Tonight’s contest versus the Florida A&M Rattlers will mark the 20th meeting all-time between FIU and a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Panthers enter Wednesday’s game with a 10-9 record versus teams from the MEAC. Tonight’s game will mark the 10th meeting all-time between FIU and FAMU with the Rattlers leading the series history, 5-4.

FIU – Florida A&M Series History
Wednesday’s game between FIU and Florida A&M will mark the 10th meeting between the two teams.

- FAMU holds a 5-4 advantage in the series history.
- The last meeting between FIU and Florida A&M resulted in an 87-82 win for the Panthers on Dec., 22, 2010, in Miami, Fla.
- FIU owns a 3-1 mark versus the Rattlers at U.S. Century Bank Arena.
- The Panthers have won three-straight over the Rattlers at U.S. Century Bank Arena.
- FIU is looking to win its third-straight versus FAMU.
- FIU owns a 10-9 mark versus teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
- Wednesday’s contest will be the first of two for the Panthers this season versus members of the MEAC. FIU will face Bethune-Cookman on Monday, Jan. 7. 


COURTESY FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS