NACOGDOCHES, Texas (Dec. 10, 2011) --- Despite a pair of 20-point performances by sophomore Phil Taylor and senior DeJuan Wright, the FIU men's basketball team (2-6) fell to the Texas Wesleyan Rams (7-1), 72-68, during the first day of the Etech Lumberjack Classic on the campus of Stephen F. Austin.

Taylor, who recorded 19 points in the first half, notched a career-high 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor. Wright posted his second-straight 20-point game, scoring 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor and 9-of-12 shooting from the free-throw line. Wright also led all players with nine rebounds.

The Panthers shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52) from the floor and converted 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from 3-point range. The Rams, who were led by Ronnie Moss (25 points), shot 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the floor and was 7-of-19 (36.8 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Rams held a 32-29 edge in the rebounding category, while the Panthers forced 21 turnovers and registered 14 steals. Senior Jeremy Allen, who ranks in the top 10 nationally in steals, recorded a game-high four steals on the afternoon.

FIU will take on Stephen F. Austin in the final game of the 2011 Etech Lumberjack Classic on Sunday, Dec. 11. Game time is 5:15 p.m. ET.        

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.