Game Notes

VESTAL, N.Y. - After a six-day break for final exams, Binghamton men's basketball returns to the floor on Tuesday when the Bearcats (2-8) host first-time foe Florida International (4-7). Tip is set for 7 p.m. at Dr. Bai Lee Court at the Events Center.

QUICK HITS
•    Binghamton plays another first-time opponent when Conference USA member Florida International makes the long trip up north. 
•    The team has had limited practice due to final exams.
•    After winning two of three games, BU has suffered four straight losses — three of which came during a tough stretch against No. 1 Michigan State, Horizon League power Oakland and 2015 NCAA tournament team Buffalo.
•    Binghamton has played a challenging non-conference slate to date, with five opponents among the RPI top 100.  
•    The Bearcats have been hit hard by injuries. Junior guard Yosef Yacob (23 min. game last season) was lost in preseason. Starting sophomore guard Romello Walker has missed the last three games and centers Thomas Bruce (2 games) and Bobby Ahearn (last game) have been out with injuries. The team's lone senior, guard Karon Waller (67 career games) hasn't played this season due to injury and sophomore center Dusan Perovic is still rounding into form after an ACL injury last January.   
•    Binghamton's current rotation features no seniors and just two juniors. The team's underclassmen account for 84% of the minutes and 83% of the scoring. Of the team's eight players averaging double-digit minutes, seven are underclassmen. 
•    Binghamton has three more games before America East play begins on Jan. 6.

LAST TIME OUT
•    Last Tuesday, sophomore center Dusan Perovic and freshman guard Everson Davis combined for 36 points but BU trailed the entire second half and came up short against visiting St. Francis (Pa.), 67-61.
•    Perovic pulled down a career-high eight rebounds and hit 4-of-8 three-pointers.
•    Davis sank 11-of-14 free throws and reached double figures for the seventh time this season. 
•    The Bearcats again had a thin lineup with sophomore regulars Romello Walker and Bobby Ahearn out with injuries. 

ABOUT FIU
•    FIU is a 54,000-enrollment school located in Miami.
•    The team returns three starters and seven lettermen from a 16-17 team that finished seventh in Conference USA last season (8-10 record)
•    The Panthers feature 6-foot-10 senior center Adrian Diaz (16.1 ppg., 9.1 rpg., 4.1 bpg.)
•    Diaz leads the nation in blocked shots and was a member of the C-USA All-Defensive Team last season.
•    FIU began the season 4-2 but the team has dropped five straight. Six of the team's losses, however, have come by eight points or fewer, including three overtime setbacks.
•    In its last outing Saturday at Northern Illinois, FIU suffered a 78-75 double overtime loss. The game featured 13 ties and 15 lead changes.    
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. FIU/CONFERENCE USA
•    This is the first meeting between the two programs.
•    Binghamton is 1-2 vs. C-USA members. The Bearcats lost two games to Marshall (2009-10 and 2010-11) and beat Tulane on the road in 2008-09.  

BACKCOURT DUO OF BECK, DAVIS CATCHING FIRE
•    The guard tandem of freshman Everson Davis (10.8 ppg.) and junior Marlon Beck (10.9 ppg.) has been sharp of late. 
•    Beck pumped in a season-high 24 points at Buffalo — the fourth time in his career he has surpassed 20. He is shooting a team-best 42% from three-point range and is logging a team-high 32 minutes per game.
•    Davis is averaging 15.0 ppg. in his last three outings and has reached double figures seven times in 10 collegiate games.