Postgame audio: Head Coach Isiah Thomas
Final Statistics (html) Final Box Score (.pdf)
MIAMI - Isiah Thomas earned his first win as a college coach Tuesday when Phil Gary Jr. scored a season-high 27 points to help FIU beat Florida Memorial 88-82, in the Golden Panthers season opener at U.S. Century Bank Arena.
The Golden Panthers improved to 1-3 in Thomas' first season.
Gary, shot 7 for 11 and added 10 free throws to pace a balanced FIU scoring attack.
FIU struggled to put the game away, leading 68-57 with 8:27 to play before the Lions went on a 17-4 run to take a 74-72 lead on a Matthew Rolle layup, four minutes later
But Marvin Roberts made a 3-pointer for a 79-76 FIU advantage that give the Panthers the lead to stay with 2 1/2 minutes left. Roberts, who came into the game as FIU's leading scorer averaging 19 points per game, finished with his first intercollegiate double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
And it wasn't only career nights for Gary and Roberts. Senior J.C. Otero, who missed most of last season after undergoing knee surgery, came up with career highs of 16 points and 14 rebounds. Otero, who was the tallest Golden Panther on the floor this evening at 6-foot-7, could hold that title for quite some time as after the game, Coach Thomas announced that 6-foot-9 senior forward Nikola Gacesa had torn his right ACL and is probably lost for the season.
FIU also got double-digit performances from Marlon Bright with 11 points and Stephon Weaver with 10.
Giorgio Gramegna had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Florida Memorial (0-2).
The announced crowd of 2,726 ranked as the fifth largest ever to witness a college game at U.S. Century Bank Arena.
The Golden Panthers now prepare for the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer Miami Subregional this weekend, beginning with Friday's double-header featurings James Madison versus Murray State at 4:00 p.m., followed by FIU hosting North Carolina Central at 7:00 p.m. For tickets and information, call (305) FIU-GAME.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
