Andres Rodriguez | PantherNOW Staff Writer
The FIU Men’s Basketball team is set to wrap up their three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 25, with a Conference USA matchup against the Liberty Flames. The Panthers previously faced New Mexico State and UTEP in the first two games of the homestand, coming up short in both contests. FIU fell 59-52 to New Mexico State and 81-73 to UTEP, extending their losing streak to four games.
This skid has left the Panthers with a 1-5 record in Conference USA play and a 7-12 overall record on the season. FIU currently sits in 9th place in the C-USA standings, heading into their next game against a Liberty team that boasts the best overall record in the conference, despite a middling 3-3 mark in C-USA play.
Heading into this pivotal matchup, FIU needs to regroup and secure a much-needed victory to potentially turn their season around. With only one win in six conference games, a triumph against Liberty could serve as the catalyst for a late-season surge to improve their position in the conference standings.
Liberty hasn’t had an ideal start to their C-USA campaign either, sitting at 3-3 in conference play. In their last three games, the Flames have gone 1-2, defeating the previously undefeated New Mexico State Aggies but falling to UTEP and Louisiana Tech—both teams that have also bested FIU this season.
For the Panthers, offensive production will be the key to victory. FIU currently ranks last in the conference in scoring, averaging just 72.74 points per game, while Liberty sits second, averaging 78.37 points per game. One major weakness in FIU’s offense is their three-point shooting; the Panthers are shooting just 30% from beyond the arc this season, ranking second-to-last in the conference. Meanwhile, Liberty excels in this area, boasting the third-best three-point shooting percentage in C-USA at 37.6%.
FIU’s top scorer, junior guard Jayden Brewer, will need to bounce back from a rough outing against UTEP, where he managed just five points on 28% shooting from the field and missed both of his three-point attempts. Brewer has been a standout all season, and a strong performance from him could be the difference-maker for FIU in this game.
Another key factor for the Panthers is the return of their defensive anchor, junior center Vianney Salatchoum. Salatchoum, who averages a team-high two blocks per game, has been instrumental to FIU’s defense, helping the team rank first in C-USA in blocked shots with 4.95 per game. His presence could be critical in containing Liberty’s potent offense.
Looking to snap their four-game losing streak, the FIU Panthers will host the Liberty Flames on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Miami, Florida. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Ocean Bank Convocation Center, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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