COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Dec. 14, 2011) --- The FIU men's basketball team (3-7) fell to the Maryland Terrapins (6-3), 65-61, on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Comcast Center in College Park, Md.

The Panthers led for most of the game however, a six-minute scoring drought by FIU gave Maryland a five-point lead, 57-52, with 1:35 left in the game. The Panthers made a push in the final 1:30, cutting the lead to two points three different times but, could not regain the lead, dropping their seventh game of the season.

Sophomore Phil Taylor registered 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and 5-of-7 shooting from the free-throw line. The 20-point performance was the third of the season for the Marietta, Ga., native. Taylor also finished the night with seven assists, tying his career-high set earlier this season (vs. George Mason, 11/14/11). Senior Jeremy Allen recorded 18 points of 7-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Allen, who entered the game ranked No. 6 in the nation in steals, notched a game-high four versus the Terrapins.

FIU finished the contest shooting 40.4 percent (23-of-57) from the floor and 6-of-15 (40.0 percent) from 3-point range. The Panthers shot 75.0 percent (9-of-12) from the free-throw line. FIU forced 12 turnovers, resulting in 13 points for the Panthers, while notching six steals.

FIU held a seven-point lead heading into halftime, holding the Terrapins to 36.0 percent (9-of-25) shooting from the floor. Allen notched 14 points in the first 20 minutes, draining four treys. It marked the third-straight game the Panthers entered halftime with the lead.

Maryland out-rebounded FIU, 38-30, recording 19 second-chance points on 17 offensive rebounds. The Terrapins finished the night, shooting 42.0 percent (21-of-50) from the floor and 10.0 percent (1-of-10) from 3-point range. Leading the way for Maryland in scoring was sophomore Terrell Stoglin, who posted 20 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the floor and 11-of-13 shooting from the free-throw line.

The loss marked the fourth of the season of four points or less and dropped FIU to 2-6 away from U.S. Century Bank Arena (1-4 away, 1-2 neutral).

FIU travels to Dayton, Ohio, to take on the Dayton Flyers on Saturday, Dec. 17. Game time is 7:00 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.