MIAMI (Jan. 12, 2012) --  A 12-0 run to start the second half for Middle Tennessee proved to be too much for FIU to overcome as the Panthers (4-12, 1-3 SBC) fell to the Blue Raiders (16-2, 5-0 SBC), 70-59, on Thursday night at U.S. Century Bank Arena. FIU, which shot 38.8 percent from the floor in the game, converted just 29.2 percent (7-of-24) from the field in the second half.

The Panthers, which led at the half, 29-26, finished the night draining 19-of-49 shots, including 5-of-14 from 3-point range. Middle Tennessee shot 42.3 percent from the floor on 22-of-52 shooting and was 3-of-13 from downtown. Neither team shot well from the free-throw line as FIU went 16-of-28 (57.1 percent) and MTSU went 23-of-34 (67.6 percent). The Panthers out-rebounded the Blue Raiders, 36-33; however, FIU committed 18 turnovers, which resulted in 28 points for Middle Tennessee.

Senior Jeremy Allen scored 19 points and registered his first-career double-double as the Detroit, Mich., native grabbed a career-best 11 rebounds. Sophomore Dominique Ferguson notched his second-career 20-point performance, tying his career-high with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting.

Middle Tennessee was led offensively by J.T. Sulton and Shawn Jones, who each poured in 10 points. Sulton also led the Blue Raiders with eight rebounds.

The loss marked FIU's second-straight overall and fourth-straight at home.

FIU will next travel to Lafayette, La., to take on the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns on Saturday, Jan. 14. Game time is 8:15 p.m. ET.

Game Notes

- With tonight's loss, FIU falls to 4-12 (1-3 SBC) while Middle Tennessee improves to 16-2 (5-0 SBC). Head Coach Isiah Thomas is now 1-6 all-time versus the Blue Raiders and MT holds the advantage in the all-time series by a 21-6 mark.
 
- Sophomore Dominique Ferguson scored a career-high-tying 20 points on the night, also contributing nine rebounds, falling one board shy of a double-double.
 
- Senior Jeremy Allen registered his first-career double-double with 19 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Allen also led the Panthers in the steals category with two, as he has now recorded at least one steal in 22-straight games, dating back to the 2010-11 season.
 
- FIU went 5-of-14 from three-point land versus MT to mark the 100th-straight game in which the Panthers have converted at least one three-pointer. The streak dates back to Dec. 20, 2008.

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