PITTSBURGH, Pa. -   The FIU football team couldn't contain Pitt's rushing attack, led by Ray Graham's career-best 277 rushing yards, as FIU fell 44-17, Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

FIU was able to stay close through three quarters as the score was 16-10 heading into the final 15 minutes. However, Pitt scored 28 points in the final 13:39 to put away FIU.

For FIU, Wesley Carroll completed 23-of-37 attempts for 223 yards. Darriet Perry carried nine times for 28 yards and two scores. Greg Ellingson led FIU with six catches for 78 yards.

After a scoreless first quarter, Pitt took a 3-0 lead with a 30-yard field goal at the 14:02 mark of the second quarter. The kick capped a 14-play, 50-yard drive for Pitt.

The FIU Panthers responded right away with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a Perry one-yard touchdown run. It was Perry's third score of the season, and gave FIU a 7-3 lead with 8:35 to go in the first half. Deep in Pitt territory and facing third-and-four, Wayne Times took a reverse all the way to the Pitt one-yard line to prolong the drive and set up the score. FIU picked up five first downs on the drive, one on the reverse, two on completions to  Ellingson and the another two on hard-nosed runs by Perry.

The lead didn't last long for FIU, as Pitt came right back with a rushing touchdown of their own to take a 10-7 lead at the 7:02 mark of the second quarter. The score came on a Graham 34-yard run.

FIU's offense went back to work right away, putting together a 16-play, 67-yard drive that ended on a 27-yard field goal by Jack Griffin. The score tied the game at 10 with 1:01 to go in the first half.  On the 10^th play of the drive, FIU went for it on fourth-and-one and converted with a 10-yard run by Perry. Later in the drive, on third-and-10, Carroll rolled away from pressure and found T.Y. Hilton for yet another FIU first down. However, the drive stalled at the Pitt nine-yard-line as FIU was forced to kick the field goal.

On the next drive, Pitt would add a field goal as time expired in the second quarter to take a 13-10 lead into the half.

A 54-yard kick return to open the second half set Pitt up with good field position at the FIU 43-yard line. However, the FIU defense forced and recovered a fumble to thwart the would-be Pitt scoring drive. The fumble was forced by senior safety Ashlyn Parker and recovered by sophomore linebacker Kenny Dillard. However, the turnover didn't lead to a score as FIU was forced to punt near mid-field.

Pitt added to its lead with a 38-yard field goal on the ensuing possession to make the score 16-10 with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter. After another punt by FIU, Pitt increased its lead to 23-10 on a touchdown pass by Tino Sunseri with 13:39 remaining in the ballgame.

The kickoff that followed the score came from the 15-yard-line as Pitt was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the touchdown. Hilton returned the kick to the Pitt 47. On the next play, Darian Mallary picked up 22 yards. Carroll then found Ellingson for 24-yards, to the Pitt one-yard-line. Two plays later, Perry was in the endzone for the second time, cutting the Pitt lead to six at 23-17 with 12:07 remaining in the contest.

The following Pitt possession didn't last long, but not in a good way for FIU, as Graham broke lose for a 79-yard touchdown run to push the Pitt lead back to 13 points at 30-17 with 9:43 to go in the game. After an FIU punt, Graham got into the endzone one more time to make the score 37-17 with 4:22 left in the game.

An FIU fumble on the first play of the following possession gave Pitt the ball deep in FIU territory. Pitt capitalized on the turnover, running it in for its fourth rushing score of the game to bring the final score to 44-17.

Next week FIU opens up its Sun Belt Conference slate as it hosts the WKU Hilltoppers at 3:30 p.m. WKU is 0-4 this season, coming off a bye week after losing 24-12 at USF.

FIU vs. Pittsburgh Game Notes

FIU captains: Senior safety No. 11 Ashlyn Parker, senior linebacker No. 13 Toronto Smith & senior center No. 76 Brad Serini

Coin Toss: Pittsburgh won the toss and deferred. FIU will receive to open the game and will defend the north endzone.

-This marked the first-ever meeting between Pitt and FIU.

-This game marked the fourth-consecutive BCS team FIU has played this year.

-FIU is now 0-5 all-time against BIG EAST opponents. The Panthers lost to BIG EAST member Rutgers, 19-14, on September 11, 2010.

-Curtis Bryant started at right guard for FIU. It was Bryant's first collegiate start.

-Freshman Jerrico Lee started at defensive tackle for FIU. It was Lee's first collegiate start.

-The FIU defense held Pitt scoreless for the first quarter. This marks the third-consecutive game in which this has happened. The Panthers are yet to allow a first quarter touchdown. The only points scored against FIU in the first quarter came on a field goal by Rutgers in FIU's season-opener.

-Darriet Perry's two touchdown runs were his third and fourth of the season, setting a new career-high. Perry now has nine-career rushing touchdowns, which is the fifth-best total in FIU history. Rashod Smith holds the record with 24.

-Pitt running back Ray Graham's 277 rushing yards are the most-ever given up by FIU to a single rusher.