Sam Houston State Bearkats vs FIU Panthers Prediction, 2/3/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Sam Houston State Bearkats vs FIU Panthers

Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024

Location: Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami, FL

TV: ESPN+

Ocean Bank Convocation Center is the site where the FIU Panthers (7-14) will take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats (12-9) on Saturday.

The Sam Houston State Bearkats stepped onto the hardwood against UTEP and walked away with a win by a score of 60-56 in their last contest. In reference to fouls, the Bearkats finished with 15 and UTEP accounted for 12 fouls. They also made 4 of their 16 attempts from beyond the arc. UTEP went 58.8% when shooting free throws by making 10 of 17 attempts. In addition, UTEP pulled down 29 rebounds (9 offensive, 20 defensive), but didn't notch a rejection. UTEP doled out 8 dimes and had 13 steals for this contest. In terms of the defense, Sam Houston State allowed the other team to shoot 36.2% from the floor on 21 out of 58 shooting. They also distributed 12 assists in this contest while forcing the other team into 15 turnovers and getting 8 steals. Pertaining to pulling down rebounds, they earned a total of 49 with 20 of them being on the offensive end. When they shot from the free throw line, the Bearkats buried 5 of 10 attempts for a percentage of 50.0%. Sam Houston State wrapped up the contest having earned a 40.6% FG percentage (26 of 64) and converted 3 of their 13 shots from 3-point land.

Damon Nicholas is one player who was a contributor for this contest. He accumulated 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting. He was on the court for 35 mins played and pulled down 13 boards. He finished shooting 50.0% from the floor and earned 3 assists.

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Sam Houston State comes into this game with a win-loss record of 12-9 so far this season. They currently have an average of 71.5 points per contest (254th in college hoops) while hitting 40.8% from the floor. The Bearkats are hitting 32.5% on three-point shots (149 of 458) and 71.2% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Sam Houston State is snagging 38.3 rebounds per contest and has racked up 275 assists on the campaign, which is 198th in Division 1 in terms of passing the ball. They turn it over 13.1 times per contest and as a unit are committing 17.4 fouls per game.

Defensively, the Bearkats are able to force 14.3 turnovers on a nightly basis while drawing 17.9 personal fouls. They give up 31.6% from 3-point land and they are 154th in college hoops in points per game from their opponents (71.0). The Bearkats defense is allowing a FG percentage of 44.0% (529 of 1,203) and they concede 36.1 boards per game as a team. They are ranked 242nd in college basketball in allowing assists to the opposition with 285 surrendered so far this year.

The last time they took the court, the FIU Panthers walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 79-61 against MTSU. The Panthers were able to pull down 17 defensive rebounds and 12 offensive boards totaling 29 in the game. They also coughed up the ball 15 times, while recording 9 steals for the matchup. MTSU had 12 fouls for this contest which got the Panthers to the free throw line for a total of 8 attempts. They were able to convert 6 of them for a rate of 75.0%. In regard to shots from distance, FIU buried 7 of 23 attempts (30.4%). In all, the Panthers finished shooting 24 out of 58 from the field which had them shooting 41.4%. The Panthers permitted MTSU to make 25 of their 53 attempts from the floor which gave them a rate of 47.2% for this game. They went 45.5% from behind the 3-point line by connecting on 10 out of 22 and walked away from this one shooting 19 out of 22 from the charity stripe (86.4%). When it comes to how they rebounded, FIU allowed MTSU to grab 33 overall (11 offensive).

Dashon Gittens was important for the Panthers for this game. He converted 4 out of 8 in the game giving him a field goal percentage of 50.0%, and tallied 5 rebounds. He scored 11 points in his 30 minutes on the hardwood and totaled 2 assists in this game.

FIU has a mark of 7-14 on the campaign. When it comes to offense, the Panthers are hitting on 44.8% from the floor, which is 173rd in the country. FIU has totaled 1,601 points on the year (76.2 per contest) and they pull down 32.7 boards per contest. They are dishing out assists 15.4 times per contest (65th in Division 1) and they turn it over 14.8 times per contest. The Panthers are responsible for committing 18.9 fouls per game and they hit 67.0% from the charity stripe.

The Panthers defensively are ranked 313th in D-1 in points per game surrendered with 77.2. They are forcing 18.5 turnovers per game and have let teams shoot 48.0% from the floor (353rd in D-1). The FIU defense gives up 38.3% from downtown (179 of 467) and opponents are making 70.6% of their free throw shots. They relinquish 15.5 dimes and 37.3 boards every game, which is 343rd and 296th in Division 1.

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Sam Houston State

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