MIAMI – Florida International basketball is getting some recognition for its success on the court.
Senior guard Brian Beard Jr. and junior center Osasumwen Osaghae were named to the Conference USA all-defensive team Monday.
Beard leads the conference in steals ranks third nationally in steals per game (3.0) and total steals (93). He has recorded five-or-more steals in a game six times this season and set the school's single-season steals mark. He also ranks second on FIU's all-time steals list with 183.
Osaghae, a former walk-on, leads the Panthers (19-12, 10-8 C-USA) and C-USA in blocked shots, averaging three per game. He is also fifth in the nation in blocks per game and total blocks (83).
Beard was also named to the all-conference second team. He leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game, and ranks seventh among C-USA players.
The Panthers earned the No. 7 seed in this week's C-USA tournament and will play Wednesday against No. 10 seed North Texas.