HCU vs. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
HOUSTON, Texas ---- Houston Christian University gets the home portion of the schedule kicked off when it hosts Florida International University on Wednesday night in Sharp Gymnasium. Opening tip is scheduled for 7 pm in the return game of a two-game series between the two schools.
HCU suffered defeat in its season opener last Monday night in Provo, Utah, as it fell 110-63 to BYU. After shooting just 25% and falling into a huge first half hole, the Huskies turned things around in the second frame, clicking offensively to the tune of 45 points on 60% shooting.
Marcus Greene, a junior transfer from Panola College who played his rookie season at Sacramento State, notched several career-bests in his debut with the Huskies.Greene led HCU with a career-high18 points on the night, while also setting new personal marks in field goals (8-15) and three-point field goals (2-5).
Both
Jay Alvarez and
Michael Imariagbe had 11 points in their first time out as Huskies. Alvarez chipped in six boards, which tied for team-high with
Pierce Bazil, who added nine points and a team-high four assists.
The Huskies are facing an FIU team that has started the 2023-24 season on a three-game losing streak. The Panthers are coming off a heartbreaking 86-80 loss at #13 Miami (FL) on Monday night. It was a game in which they trailed by 15 in the first half, then led by 12 in the second half before a mid-second half rally that gave the host Hurricanes the lead back for good.
FIU brings back eight players from last year's team that defeated HCU at the Ocean Bank Center in the season opener for both teams. HCU jumped out to a 41-32 lead at the break on 65% shooting from the arc. The script flipped in the second half, as the Huskies went cold from the field and FIU heated up to the tune of 60% shooting in rallying for the 77-66 win.
Bonke Maring had eight points and eight rebounds while
Pierce Bazil had seven points and four assists for the Huskies on that night. Arturo Dean had 19 points, six rebounds and three assists, and Javaunte Hawkins chipped in 11 to pace FIU.
Dean was selected to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference team prior to the season, and headlines that group of eight returners. The 5'11 sophomore guard from Miami leads the Panthers in scoring at 11.7 ppg and assists with 4.3 per, while tying for second on the club at 3.7 rebounds per game. 6'3 sophomore guard Dashon Gittens of Hartford, Connecticut averages 11 points per while 6'9 junior forward Jonathan Aybar, a transfer out of North Florida, leads the team at 4.3 caroms per night.
The two game homestead concludes next Monday, when the Huskies host UTSA. The two teams haven't met since 2018-19, when the Roadrunners snuck out of Sharp Gym with an 86-82 win.
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