The Florida International University (FIU) men’s basketball team, currently holding a record of 12-13 overall and 5-9 in Conference USA (CUSA), is set to face off against conference leader Liberty, boasting an impressive record of 22-3 and sitting undefeated at 14-0 in CUSA play. The highly anticipated game will take place on Thursday in Lynchburg, with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
In their previous outing, FIU delivered one of their strongest performances of the season, defeating Louisiana Tech 77-64. A standout in that match was Hamed Olayinka, who achieved a career-high double-double with 11 points and 17 rebounds, alongside five blocks. This victory highlighted the Panthers’ ability to dominate the boards, limiting their opponent to just 24 rebounds.
Liberty, on a remarkable winning streak of 16 games, is thriving in their conference play and remains undefeated at home this season. Their recent victories include a close win over New Mexico State and a solid performance against UTEP, where they won by nine points. Historically, FIU has faced challenges against Liberty, with a 2-5 record all-time and an 0-3 mark in games played in Lynchburg. The last encounter between the two teams was a thrilling overtime battle that concluded with Liberty securing a 97-94 victory, despite a commendable 21-point game from FIU.
Adding to the team’s momentum is freshman Dibami, who has recently clinched his second consecutive CUSA Freshman of the Week award, averaging 13 points and 10.5 rebounds, while shooting nearly 58 percent from the field. His impressive performance places him in a tie with FIU Hall of Famer Dwight Stewart for the third-most double-doubles by a freshman in a season.
Moreover, Olayinka’s outstanding game came as a historic performance, marking the first time in FIU history that a player recorded 11 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks, and three assists in a single game. His five blocks also stand out as the most from a Panther in a game since Seth Pinkney accomplished the feat in March 2024.
As the Panthers prepare to take on Liberty, they will look to build on their recent success and continue their pursuit of excellence. Following the matchup against Liberty, FIU will return home to face Missouri State for their next contest.
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