FIU men’s basketball looks to white out defending champion Louisville Dec. 21

Tymell Murphy and the Panthers face their biggest test of the season Saturday vs. Louisville. Murphy leads the team in scoring this season with 16.3 points per game.

The FIU men’s basketball team will host the defending National Champion Louisville Cardinals, led by 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Head Coach Rick Pitino on Saturday, Dec. 21, on Lime Court at U.S. Century Bank Arena. Tip-off is set for 6:07 p.m. (ET) and the contest will be televised on FOX Sports 1.

Ranked No. 6 (AP Top 25) and No. 4 (USA Today Coaches) in this week’s national polls, Louisville will become the highest ranked opponent to visit U.S. Century Bank Arena and be the first-ever defending national champion to face the Panthers on their home court.

In conjunction with Campus Life and SGA, the FIU Athletic Department will showcase a number of promotions and events surrounding Saturday’s historic event, including a “White Out” of U.S. Century Bank Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear white to show their Panther Pride on national television, and two lucky fans will be selected winners of the Lucky Lifeguard Seat Upgrade.

Campus Life will distribute white, limited-edition basketball tank tops to the first 300 students who enter the arena, and a Greek Row Tailgate will take place outside the student gate of U.S. Century Bank Arena from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Organizations must RSVP to participate – limited spots remain, so reserve your organization’s tailgate today via email (mazpiazu@fiu.edu).

To go along with the “White Out” theme, white #PantherNation T-shirts, courtesy of SGA, will be distributed to FIU fans in attendance. Halftime entertainment will include a special holiday performance by the FIU Golden Dazzlers, and the FIU Cheerleaders will hand out #PantherNation sunglasses, also courtesy of SGA.

Saturday’s game will also feature giveaways such as schedule magnets, pocket schedules, team posters and McDonald’s #PantherNation t-shirts. Additional highlights include contests such as the all-new Fathead Race and Uniform Challenge; performances by the Courtside Players, FIU Cheerleaders, Golden Dazzlers, and FIU Rhythm Section, Manos Calientes; and much more.

Admission to FIU men’s basketball games is FREE to all FIU students, and those who attend 10 or more home games will receive official team gear at the end of the season. Get your incentive card punched at the table inside the student entrance.

Single-game tickets can be purchased by calling the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME, or by logging onto www.FIUSports.com.