Bautista Samperi | Sports Director
The FIU men’s basketball team will face the University of Miami in Coral Gables on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m..
The Panthers (5-3) are in the mix of a three game winning streak, including back-to-back wins at home against Florida Gulf Coast and Jacksonville.
This is the team’s first three-game winning streak since 2022-23 as they travel to the Watsco Center for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
During the Panthers last game, a 88-65 win over Jacksonville on Dec. 6, senior Corey Stephenson recorded 14 points on 4-7 from the field, including 2-3 from three, five rebounds, two assists and three steals, earning the CUSA Player of the Week after this game, the first time a Panthers has received this recognition since the 2023-24 season.
During that week, he averaged 16.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.0 assists. He also had a shooting percentage of 64.2 from the field and 66.7 from three.
FIU has faced Miami 12 times since becoming a Division I basketball program. The Hurricanes hold an 11-1 record, including 9-1 at home and have won the last seven matchups.
The only victory for the Panthers came during the 1992-93 season where they were able to defeat their state rivals 72-64 in the season opener.
Senior guard Brit Harris who is averaging 9.8 points per game during the season, is currently 19 points away from 1,000 in his career.
Also, head coach Jeremy Ballard is six wins from breaking the program record set by Rich Walker.
After facing the U, the Panthers will return home to face-off against LIU on Dec. 20. Then they will face Trinity College of Jacksonville on Dec. 22 and will end the 2025 year facing the Liberty University Flames on Dec. 28, marking the beginning of conference play for the team.
The 2026 year will begin on Jan. 2 when the Panthers host New Mexico State and UTEP on Dec. 4 before hitting the road for three straight games in which they will travel to Jacksonville, Missouri and Kennesaw.
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