TULSA, Okla. (Nov. 21 , 2011) --- The FIU men's basketball team committed 19 turnovers, resulting in 24 points as the Panthers fell to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, 58-56, during the consolation rounds of the 2011 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off in Tulsa, Okla.     

"We were poor in all areas of the game," Head Coach Isiah Thomas said. "Our team needs to learn how to play a complete game for all 40 minutes."

FIU (1-2) jumped out to an 11-point lead, 23-12, following a 3-pointer by senior Jeremy Allen with 7:39 left in the first half. However, the Panthers struggled from the field for the remainder of the half, as APBU outscored FIU, 18-2, to take a 33-25 lead heading into halftime.

During the first half, FIU shot 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from the floor but committed 12 turnovers, resulting in 17 Golden Lion points.

APBU jumped out to a 14-point lead to start the second half, 39-25. Daniel Broughton tipped in a missed layup with 18:03 left in the game to give the Golden Lions their biggest lead of the contest. FIU battled back as Allen gave FIU its first lead since the first half, with a put-back layup with 1:37 left to play. However, APBU regained the lead 10 seconds later following a Broughton layup and held onto the advantage for the remainder of the contest.

For the Panthers, Allen led all scorers with 21 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the floor. The Detroit, Mich., native registered a career-high six steals. Sophomore Phil Taylor scored in double-figures, registering 13 points, while notching six assists.

As a team, FIU shot 38.6 percent (17-of-44) from the floor and 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from beyond the arc. The Panthers converted 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) shots from the free-throw line. APBU out-rebounded FIU, 32-25, and held a 14-13 edge in steals.

For Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2), Mitchell Anderson and Savalace Townsed each poured in 19 points.

FIU will next face Oral Roberts on Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the Mabee Center in Tulsa, Okla. Game time is 8:30 p.m.       

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.