BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Dec. 31, 2011) - Led by 22 points from senior Jeremy Allen and 20 points from sophomore Phil Taylor, the FIU men's basketball team (4-10, 1-1 SBC) defeated the WKU Hilltoppers (5-10, 1-1 SBC), 81-63, at E.A. Diddle Arena. The win snapped a four-game losing skid for the Panthers and marked the first win for FIU at WKU since Feb. 2, 1999 (FIU 57, WKU 53).

Allen posted his third 20-point performance of the season, tying a career high with 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. The Detroit, Mich., native also grabbed a season-high five boards and a game-high four steals. His four steals were more than the entire Hilltopper team combined (3).

Taylor added 20 points on 3-of-7 shooting and a career-best 12-of-12 shooting from the charity stripe. The Marietta, Ga., native was 10-of-10 from the line during the final four minutes of the contest. Taylor also registered a game-high five assists.

Sophomore Dominique Ferguson poured in 15 points and recorded seven boards on the afternoon. The Indianapolis, Ind., native notched three blocked shots versus the Hilltoppers to increase his season total to 17. Junior Brandon Moore registered a game-high five blocks, tying a school record for blocked shots versus WKU. The New Orleans, La., native scored six points and recorded a game-high and career-best nine rebounds.

As a team, FIU shot 44.0 percent from the floor (22-of-50) and season-best 84.6 percent from the free-throw line (33-of-39). The Panthers made the most of their chances from the charity stripe converting 21 chances in the final 6:30 of the game. FIU blocked a season-high nine shots (the most under Head Coach Isiah Thomas), led by Moore's five. The Panthers recorded nine steals, forcing 17 WKU turnovers, resulting in 13 points for FIU.

The Hilltoppers were held to 34.5 percent shooting from the floor (19-of-55) and converted 18-of-21 from the free-throw line. Derrick Gordon and Kahlil McDonald led WKU with 11 points apiece. 

The Panthers held a 27-25 lead at the half, forcing 10 WKU turnovers and limiting the Hilltoppers to 26.1 percent (6-of-23) shooting from the floor. Allen led all scorers with nine points on 3-of-7 shooting, hitting the team's lone trey of the first half.  FIU finished the first stanza shooting 33.3 percent from the floor (9-of-27).

The win snapped a six-game losing skid to the Hilltoppers and marked the first victory for Coach Thomas versus WKU. 

FIU will host ULM in the Panther's Sun Belt Conference home opener on Saturday, Jan. 7. Game time is 7:30 p.m. ET.