FIU faces Middle Tenn. in CUSA tourney
March 8, 2021 GMT
No. 7 seed Florida International (9-17, 2-15) vs. No. 6 seed Middle Tennessee (5-17, 3-13)
Conference USA Conference Tourney First Round, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas; Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Florida International and Middle Tennessee are set to do battle in the opening round of the CUSA tournament. The teams split the regular season series at one win apiece. The teams last met on Jan. 9, when the Blue Raiders shot 42.9 percent from the field while holding Florida International to just 38.6 percent on the way to a 67-56 victory.
PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE: Each of these teams has relied heavily on their seniors this year. Jordan Davis, Jo’Vontae Millner-Criss, Jalen Jordan, DeAndre Dishman and Dontrell Shuler have combined to account for 62 percent of Middle Tennessee’s scoring this season. For Florida International, Tevin Brewer, Dimon Carrigan, Radshad Davis and Eric Lovett have collectively accounted
Conference USA Conference Tourney First Round, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Southern Miss is set to meet Rice in the first round of the CUSA tournament. Rice swept the two-game regular season series. The teams last played on Feb. 6, when Southern Miss made just three 3-pointers on 17 attempts while the Owls hit 14 of 32 behind the arc en route to a 76-68 victory.
STEPPING UP: Rice s Quincy Olivari has averaged 16.3 points and 4.8 rebounds while Max Fiedler has put up 10.6 points and 8.6 rebounds. For the Golden Eagles, Tyler Stevenson has averaged 14.2 points and 7.3 rebounds while Tae Hardy has put up 10 points.OUTSTANDING OLIVARI: Olivari has connected on 40.9 percent of the 193 3-pointers he s attempted and has gone 17 for 55 over the last five games. He s also made 81.1 percent of his free throws this season.