ELON, N.C. – After four consecutive games on the road, the Elon University men's basketball team will return to Alumni Gym on Nov. 30 to take on the Florida International University Panthers. This is part of a continued series of previews looking at the maroon and gold's non-conference opponents.
 
FIU PANTHERS
 
Date: November 30, 2016
Location: Miami, Fla.
Home Arena: FIU Arena
2015-16 Record: 13-19 overall, 7-11 in C-USA (T-9th)
Post-Season: None
All-Time Series: 1-0, Elon Leads
Head coach: Anthony Evans (Entering 4th season at FIU, 44-52)
Players Returning/Lost: 8/4
Key Returners: Donte McGill (Sr.), Elmo Stephen (Sr.)
Top Scorer Returning: Donte McGill (16.1 ppg)
Top Rebounder Returning: Donte McGill (4.6 rpg)
 
Quick 2016-17 Preview
FIU brings back three starters and eight letterwinners from last season. There will be a lot of new faces this season as five transfers and one freshman join the squad. FIU lost a key player in Adrian Diaz, who was an All-Conference USA Defensive Team and Second Team selection. Donte McGill highlights the returners and was FIU's second leading scorer last season. The team has an experienced group, as nine of the 14 players are upperclassmen.
 
Quick 2015-16 Recap
Florida International is coming off a 13-19 season and a tie for ninth-place finish in Conference USA. The Panthers fell in the first round of the C-USA tournament last season 85-77 against the No. 6 seed UTEP. FIU had the fourth-best defense in the league giving up 70.1 points per game last season. The Panthers held opposing teams to 40.8 percent shooting from the field, which ranked second Conference USA. Adrian Diaz was a big part of that defensive success and earned All-Conference USA Defensive Team and Second Team selections.
 
Matchup
The game on Wednesday, Nov. 30, will be the second meeting between Elon and FIU. The Phoenix squared off against the Panthers for the first time last season and Elon won 77-71 on Dec. 4, 2015 inside FIU Arena.