Box Score BLACKSBURG, Va. (November 14, 2011) --- Three Panthers reached double-figures in scoring as FIU defeated George Mason, 79-76 in overtime in the opening round of the 2011 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off in Blacksburg, Va.

DeJuan Wright (23 points), Jeremy Allen (20 points) and Phil Taylor (14 points), led FIU to its first win of the season and a second-round matchup with host Virginia Tech. FIU (1-0) led the entire overtime period, out-scoring the Patriots (1-1), 13-10.

"Our team definitely fought hard," Head Coach Isiah Thomas said. "We got a big night from our seniors, Jeremy (Allen) and DeJuan (Wright). Phil Taylor, at the end of the game, made some big shots for us. It was a hard fought basketball game and I am just pleased to get the win."

Wright led all scorers with his eighth-career, 20-point game, shooting 9-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-7 from the free-throw line. The Detroit, Mich., native grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, setting a new personal best. Allen drained four 3-pointers in the contests, including a crucial trey to put the Panthers up by seven with 1:42 left in overtime. Allen converted 6-of-15 from the floor and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Taylor, who made his first collegiate start on Monday, notched a career-high seven assists, while scoring 14 points and recording three steals. The Marietta, Ga., native hit a clutch three with just under three minute left in overtime to extend FIU's lead to four.      

Freshman Gilles Dierickx, sealed the victory for the Panthers, sinking a running floater from the free-throw line to give FIU a 79-73 advantage with 20 seconds left in the game. The 7-footer, finished the night with six points and three rebounds in his FIU debut.

On the night, the Panthers shot 43.1 percent (28-of-65) from the floor and 44.4 percent (8-of-18) from beyond the arc. FIU converted 15-of-18 chances from the free-throw line and forced 21 turnovers, resulting in 24 points.

The victory marked the second-straight season-opening win for the Panthers. It also was the team's first-ever win over George Mason.
With the victory, the Panthers advance to the East Region Championship of the 2011 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off and will take on Virginia Tech on Tuesday,
Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
 
About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 17 different sports, and is a proud member of the Sun Belt Conference and an affiliate member of Conference USA (men's soccer). Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century
Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is worlds ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission and enrolls 46,000 students in two campus and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. More than 140,000 alumni live and work in South Florida. FIU is a member of the Sun Belt Conference and has 400 student-athletes participating in 17 sports. In 2010 the Panthers won their first bowl game. For more information about FIU, visit www.fiu.edu.