FIU MBB Sweats Out First C-USA Win of 2024 Over Aggies

MIAMI, FL – The FIU Panthers picked up their first Conference USA victory of the season over New Mexico State of the season after a tough but close loss to Jacksonville State in their conference opener six days earlier.

It wasn’t easy. In fact, down the stretch, it looked like the game was lost.

After going up 57-40 with 12:10 left in the game, FIU saw their lead dwindle to just two points eight minutes later. The Panthers hadn’t hit a field goal in that time frame and allowed the Aggies to go on an 11-0 run.

“Yeah, that’s conference play,” FIU head coach Jeremy Ballard said postgame. “No one’s ever going to give in, no one’s ever going to give up.”

Ballard said he had two qualms about his team’s performance in their 77-67 victory – they only had one offensive rebound, and they lost their focus at the end of the first half and parts of the second.

“Credit to New Mexico State,” Ballard said. “They took advantage of that. But I’m just so proud of us for weathering the storm, making some big free throws, and getting some key stops down the stretch.

But FIU hung in by taking advantage of their trips to the free-throw line. The Panthers went 11-for-14 from the stripe during those eight minutes to keep the Aggies from taking the lead.

FIU guard Arturo Dean then hit a layup with 2:06 left for FIU’s first bucket in 10 minutes to go up 70-65.

The Panthers then went 7-for-10 from there to close out the game.

FIU guard Dashon Gittens went 11-for-12 from the free-throw line on Thursday and hit two three-pointers.

“The second three was a tough three,” Gittens said. “I’ve been just working in the gym like (coach Ballard) said. All of my teammates have been in the gym. I have been working out here. I’ve been working out there. I’ve just really been trying to work on my game to get myself to get better at shooting, to get myself better at all these things on the court.”

FIU’s perimeter offense set the tone during the first half. The Panthers held a slim lead in the opening 10 minutes, but four consecutive three-pointers – two each from Javaunte Hawkins and Jaidon Lipscomb – gave FIU a 13-point lead that would hardly dwindle throughout the remainder of the game.

“It’s pretty fun to have that type of backcourt,” Gittens said. “It’s not really that many people that can shoot like Javaunte and not that many people that can drive like Arturo. So you know, it’s just really fun playing with those guys.”

The Panthers (6-11, 1-1) hit 10 of their 16 three-point tries in the first half. They ended the night shooting 54 percent from beyond the arc. while Hawkins sank five and recorded 20 points.

It was a good contrast from FIU’s three-point performance against Jacksonville State where they went a paltry 3-for-17.

FIU will take on the UTEP Miners this Saturday at Ocean Bank Convocation Center for another C-USA tilt. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 pm.