Panthers Start Strong, Fizzle Out Against Owls On Vice Night

MIAMI, FL – Despite the vibes off the court, FIU Men’s Basketball couldn’t get the job done on Vice Night as they fell to FAU by a score of 88-77.

This game saw some solid performances and a game plan that worked at the start but fizzled out in the second half.

Bumpin In The Pink & Blue

It was made crystal clear early on that the two past-break offenses would have their way. For FIU, it was their best start to a game this season as they were out-pacing the Owls for an early lead.

The game plan for the Panthers was to minimize three-pointers and attack the paint. To that end, they were relatively successful with Jayden Brewer and Vianney Salatchoum dominating the rim.

Regardless of how the rest of the game went, Brewer ended up with the highlight of the night.

Despite the size disadvantage, FIU edged out FAU in the rebounding department which led to some second-chance points. Both squads went blow for blow until halftime with the Owls holding on to a one-point lead.

Good, But Not Good Enough

Things began to slip in the second half after a while. The turnovers began to pile up and the Owls wasted no time taking advantage, getting on a 14-2 run and providing separation.

FAU also began to attack the rim more often, as they weren’t finding much success otherwise. It was enough to get a few slam dunks and fouls called on FIU, forcing early timeouts.

The Panthers didn’t go down quietly, cutting the lead to four with four minutes to go. But it seemed like every time FIU found success, FAU had an answer.

Salatchoum had his best game of the season with 20 points, three rebounds, and four blocks. Brewer nailed a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

FIU now stands with a 2-6 record thanks to a tough nonconference slate. They’ll look to take the Mighty Banyans of the New College of Florida on Friday, November 6th at 7pm.