Basketball teams open at home Nov. 17 with doubleheader

You’ve heard the hype, you’ve read the stories, now it’s your opportunity to see ’em play live. The men’s and women’s basketball teams host their first home games of the season Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, in the U.S. Century Bank Arena at Modesto A. Maidique Campus.

The women’s team takes the floor against Jacksonville at 5 p.m. and the men tip-off against Florida Memorial at 8 p.m.

The men’s team, under the leadership of head coach Isiah Thomas, lost its season opener Nov. 9 when it fell to No. 6-ranked North Carolina 88-72 in the 2K Sports Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C. It wasn’t all gloom and doom for the Panthers, who forced 26 turnovers against the defending national champs.

The FIU women open their 2009-10 season Nov. 13 at the Sheraton Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational in Raleigh, N.C. when they take on N.C. State at 8 p.m. The team was victorious in its lone exhibition game of the season, a 67-50 victory over Nova.

Athletics and the Alumni Association will host a Panther Pit Tailgate for the doubleheader home opener between both games, from 7 to 8 p.m. Enjoy free give-a-ways, visits from Roary the FIU mascot, the FIU cheerleaders and the Dazzlers. There will be music and activities for the kids and adults, and it promises to be a fun time.

To purchase tickets to the Nov. 17 games, click here.

The anticipated attendance at these games is expected to impact both traffic and parking around the arena’s perimeter. In particular, traffic is expected to pick up beginning at 4:30 p.m. and last until approximately 8:30 p.m. The departments of Parking & Transportation and Public Safety will have parking attendants and officers assisting with traffic and pedestrian walkways. Plans at this time are for the Panther garage to be used for guest parking and the U.S. Century Bank Arena loading area and Lot 11 to be reserved for parking for VIPs, media and coaches.