Thursday, June 5, 2003

FIU and Miami to resume men's basketball rivalry

lorida International University and the University of Miami have agreed to a home-and-home men’s basketball series for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.

The Golden Panthers and Hurricanes will meet on Saturday, Dec. 6 at UM’s Convocation Center. The series moves to FIU’s Golden Panther Arena on a date yet to be determined, during the 2004-05 campaign.

“I feel that playing UM does nothing but help increase the exposure for basketball in South Florida. We are very excited about the series and the fact that we are playing a doubleheader provides an opportunity make it an event. We are really looking forward to it,” said FIU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Rick Mello.

The two schools have met eight times previously in men’s basketball, with all of those meetings played at the Miami Arena. UM holds a 7-1 overall series lead.

They last played on Dec. 3, 2001, which ended a nine-year hiatus, with the Hurricanes coming out on top, 77-59. FIU’s lone victory of the series occurred on the previous meeting, a 72-64 win on Dec. 1, 1992.