Hawkins Heroics Not Enough As FIU MBB Falls To Trailblazers In OT

In the final game of 2023, FIU Men’s Basketball led at the half, but thanks to the combo of Noa Gonsalves and Jaylen Searles for Utah Tech, the Panthers fell to a final score of 96-92 in overtime.

In just five minutes of action, the Panthers full court press, which has seen its struggles this season saw it thrive where they were able to produce five quick turnovers.

Although the Panthers got off to a hot start, the Trailblazers didn’t back down thanks to Gonsalves who had 18 points, one rebound, one steal, and shot 6-9 from the three-point line, where he took all of his shots in the first half.

Gonsalves ended the night with 21 points while making seven three-pointers, which is a program record for most three-pointers made in a single game.

Although the press was effective early on, it led to Gonsalves making open three-pointers, which made it a 39-36 game at the half.

For FIU, sophomore guard Arturo Dean initially led the way, dropping nine points, one rebound, one assist, and two steals, and shot 4-8 from the field, with one shot being a three-pointer in the first half of action.

For Dean, aggressiveness is what was working for him along with his speed, which has always been a factor. What hurt the Panthers guard was foul trouble, as he had to miss a part of the second half, but once the Trailblazers took the lead, Dean was back in with about eight minutes left to play.

Dean would end the night with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, six steals, and shot 8-16 from the field.

Making his first start of the season, Jaidon Lipscomb continued to do what he’s been doing since receiving extensive playing time, as he ended with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and shot 3-8 from the three-point line.

Javaunte Hawkins made his second straight start as he has been doing throughout the entirety of the season, and has become the primary ball handler along with scoring 27 points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

With under a minute to go, FIU was trailing 80-77 and Hawkins made a three-pointer to tie the game at 80 apiece, but Jayden Searles matched his shot, making it an 83-80 game and Hawkins made one more three-pointer which left the clock at 0.5 seconds.

In overtime, Hawkins made a clutch three-pointer to make it a 93-92 game, but it wouldn’t be enough at the end of the day.

After not playing in the first half, Utah Tech guard Jaylen Searles kept the Trailblazers in it and put them on top of the Panthers with a three-pointer with 8:24 left in the game. Searles ended the night with 11 points, five rebounds, and two assists and didn’t miss a three-pointer.

What hurt FIU throughout the majority of the game was in the rebounding department, where they trailed 58-34. Tanner Christensen led the way for Utah Tech with 10 rebounds and was trailed by Ben Riley who had eight.

The Trailblazers were able to get the shot behind the arc going as well. Led by Gonsalves seven three-pointers, as a team, Utah Tech made 14 out of 26 against the Panthers 12 made three-pointers.

Led by Dean and Hawkins in the second half, the Panthers were able to make it a two-point deficient, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Panthers would fall to the Utah Tech Trailblazers to a final score of 96-92.

FIU is back at it on January 6th as they head to Alabama to begin conference play against the newcomer Jacksonville State Gamecocks at 5pm.