FIU MBB Comes Roaring Back, Knocks Off UTEP For Second Straight Conference Win

MIAMI, FL – The FIU Panthers have not won a game against the UTEP Miners since the 2019-2020 season, and it looked like that would be the case once more when FIU trailed by 16 points, but then the comeback began.

Going into the half, the Panthers trailed 36-28 mainly due to the six three-pointers the Miners made, something they are not usually known for.

FIU, who ranked third in the conference in three-point percentage this season knew that it would be a struggle as UTEP defends well from behind the arc, mainly known as a defensive-oriented team.

The Panthers only made two three-pointers in the first half, which would be the case heading deep into the second half.

Although FIU struggled shooting the ball in the first half of action, Mohamed Sanogo kept the Panthers in it as he ended the night with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and made clutch free throws towards the end of the game to keep FIU in it despite trailing by 16 in the second half.

When the full-court press wasn’t working for the Panthers, Trey Horton of the Miners took advantage of it as he ended his night with 14 points, and two steals and did not miss a three-pointer, making all four of them.

In the second half of action, the Panthers found confidence according to guard Dashon Gittens. After only making two three-pointers as a team in the first half, the Panthers, led by Javaunte Hawkins made 3 three-pointers and ended the second half with 15 points. He would end the game with 20 points.

With Hawkins’s performance on the night, he finds himself within the top ten in points per game amongst Conference USA and stays within the top 20 in three-point percentage.

It is now back-to-back games where guard Dashon Gittens ends the game with double-digit scoring. On Saturday, Gittens ended the game with 19 points, and four rebounds and was 6-7 from the free throw line, as he ranks in the top five of free throw percentage.

Jaidon Lipscomb may have had his worst shooting night of the season, but he certainly moved the ball well as he ended the night with five assists.

“I didn’t even notice that he was one for six until right now when looked at the stat sheet,” said FIU head coach Jeremy Ballard. “I recommended him because I thought he played awesome tonight. He was a great ball mover.”

With the Panthers down 16 after just trailing by one early in the second half, the Panthers mounted a 19-4 run, but most notably an 11-0 run in the last 2:30 in the game to give the Panthers a 72-68 win.

It all came down to which team turned the ball over less, and it was the Panthers with only nine turnovers compared to the Miners’ 10, which came at a higher cost as the Panthers had 20 points off of turnovers in that second half and also beat the Miners in the rebounding department, 12-8.

The play of the game came at the end when the Panthers forced the Miners’ 25th turnover of the game Arturo Dean passed it to Jaidon Lipscomb who threw a behind-the-back pass to Mohamed Sanogo to dunk it in and close the game out.

The Panthers not only beat the Miners for the first time since the 2019-2020 season but are now 2-1 in Conference USA play this season.

FIU’s next game will be on Thursday, January 18th against the Liberty Flames at 7 pm in Lynchburg, Virginia.