MIAMI, Fla. — The Jacksonville men's basketball team is set to travel down south for an in-state showdown against the FIU Panthers at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center Saturday afternoon. This matchup marks just the second time the two teams have faced each other in the histories of both schools.
Jacksonville vs FIU
Saturday December 6th | 2:00 PM | Miami, FL | ESPN+
Records: Jacksonville 4-4, FIU 4-3
Last Meeting: 11/19/2016, Jacksonville won 78-75 (OT)
All-Time Record: Jacksonville leads 1-0
The Matchup
FIU ranks favorably in several categories heading into the weekend's tilt. They are currently 10th in the nation for offensive rebounds, averaging 15.4 per game. Additionally, they are 24th in turnovers forced at 16.4 per contest, 18th in steals per game with an average of 10.4 and 15th in blocks per game, averaging 5.9.
The Panthers are led by senior guard/forward Corey Stephenson, who is averaging 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists a night. He currently ranks third in the country in offensive rebounds, averaging 4.6 per game. Additionally, he leads the Panthers in minutes played with a 27.1 minutes per game average.
Joining Stephenson as the only other Panthers to start every game are Hamed Olayinka and Ashton Williamson. Olayinka averages 6.7 rebounds per game and leads the team in blocks with a total of 13. Meanwhile, Williamson heads up the team in assists, having accumulated 23 so far this season.
In its previous game on Wednesday, FIU defeated FGCU 89-83, overcoming one of the top teams in the ASUN. In a matchup which FIU struggled to find consistent scoring from the field, the Panthers scored their final 19 points from the free-throw line, failing to make a field goal in the last 6:14 of the game. The Panthers shot 19-20 from the free-throw line after their last field goal, an impressive 95% accuracy.
Last Time Out
Jacksonville returned back to Swisher Gymnasium for the first time in nearly a month and delivered one of its grittiest performances of the season, defeating Florida A&M 85–82 in overtime.
The contest saw five Dolphins score in double figures. Junior guard Jaylen Jones set the tone early, opening 4-4 from 3-point range and finishing with a team-high 16 points. The city of Jacksonville's own Chris Arias followed closely with 15 points while hit three triples and adding four rebounds. Freshman guard Evan Sterck continued his early season tear, posting 14 points and five boards while logging a career-high 39 minutes.
JU also benefited from a timely surge by sophomore guard Chris Lockett Jr., who scored 11 straight points for the Dolphins during a crucial second-half stretch. His scoring burst turned a seven-point deficit into a 67–64 JU lead with 6:52 to play. Junior forward Donovan Rivers added 10 points — his second double-digit effort in his last three outings — and scored the final six points in overtime for Jacksonville.
Jacksonville was also able to limit turnovers, having only nine versus a team that was 30th in the country in steals per game.
Dolphin Notes
Hayden Wood is a promising newcomer who has excelled early in his time at Jacksonville. The 6'6" freshman guard averages over 20 minutes per game, and tallies 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds. He has also recorded six blocks in his first eight games, tying for the team high. Additionally, Wood consistently shoots well from beyond the arc, ranking second on the team in three-point shots made. He is one of three Dolphins to start every game this season and the only freshman to do so.
Having to load up a new roster this past offseason, Jacksonville still boasts one of the deepest teams in the country. JU currently ranks 34th nationwide in bench points per game, which is also the highest in the ASUN.
In their last three games, the Dolphins have significantly reduced their overall turnovers. In the first five games of the season, Jacksonville averaged 15.2 turnovers per game and had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. However, during the last three games, the team has improved to an average of just 8.6 turnovers per game and has achieved a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.
Senior forward Jaylen Jordon has recently emerged as a bright spot for the Dolphins, providing crucial minutes for Jacksonville. Although Jordon didn't appear during Jacksonville's Feast Week run in the Sunshine Slam, he showcased his talents against Florida A&M. In just 11 minutes of play, he scored seven points, shooting 2-for-4 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. Additionally, he contributed four rebounds.
