FIU MBB Snaps Losing Skid, Knock Off Flames

MIAMI, FL – They had to sweat it out, but the FIU Panthers staved off a comeback attempt from the Liberty Flames Thursday night.

After leading by as much as 14 early in the second half, FIU (9-18, 4-8) pulled out a 76-71 victory and stopped a three-game losing skid over Liberty.

The Flames (16-11, 5-7) went on a 17-3 run and tied the game at 55-55 with 11:07 left in the game, and subsequently took the lead 30 seconds later. From there, the two teams would change leads seven times before George Pridgett Jr hit a three-pointer with 6:21 remaining.

Although FIU held the lead the rest of the game, Liberty stayed within one possession almost the whole way until Javaunte Hawkins sank a three with 2:01 left to give FIU a 72-66 lead.

Hawkins had 20 points with three buckets beyond the arc, along with six rebounds.

Liberty briefly got within three points, cutting the deficit to 74-71, and had the ball during the last possession with the shot clock off.

Liberty forward Kyle Rode put up a three-point attempt, but it clanked off the rim, then the backboard, before it fell into FIU guard Arturo Dean’s hands. Dean was subsequently fouled and sank both free throws to ice the game.

Dean led all scorers with 24 points, along with four assists and five rebounds.

FIU (9-18, 4-8) took advantage of Liberty’s lack of size with 44 points in the paint to Liberty’s 36. The Panthers outrebounded the Flames 38-31.

Thursday wasn’t the first time FIU has gotten out to a big lead and seen it evaporate. But the difference on Thursday was that FIU didn’t let it keep them down.

“Seeing the poise, I just think it’s growth throughout the season,” head coach Jeremy Ballard said. “We’ve been in so many games this year. So many of these losses could have gone the other way. Our record could very easily be flipped. But what I’m proud of is: that our guys haven’t hung their heads. They haven’t been ‘woe is me’, and they showed the poise down the stretch.“

“We talked a lot about how we must play with and channel our emotions without being emotional, and making sure that we were present in the here and now. Not letting what happened in the past affect us, and understanding that the most important play is the next one.”

It’ll be a short turnaround for FIU as they’ll continue their homestand against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Saturday, February 24th at 6 pm.