Box Score MIAMI (Nov. 29, 2012) – Shooting a blistering 60.4 percent from the field while holding the Red Wolves to just 36.5 percent from the floor, the FIU men's basketball team (2-2, 1-0 SBC) defeated Arkansas State (4-2, 0-1 SBC), 80-61, on Thursday evening at U.S. Century Bank Arena.

Led by junior Tymell Murphy's career-high in points (22) and rebounds (7), the Panthers registered their first home victory of the season. Murphy also shot 9-of-10 from the floor. Junior Malik Smith registered his fourth-straight double-digit performance, scoring 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the floor (3-of-8 from beyond the arc. Sophomore Juan Ferrales and freshman Jerome Frink each posted 10 points on the night as well. Frink also grabbed seven boards versus the Red Wolves.

As a team, FIU converted 8-of-15 from beyond the arc (53.3 percent) and shot 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the free-throw line. The Panthers out-scored the Red Wolves, 40-26, in the paint while, defensively, FIU forced 15 turnovers, resulting in 24 points.

The Panthers held Arkansas State to 26 points in the first half, as the Red Wolves shot just 28.6 percent (10-of-35) from the floor. With a seven-point lead at the break, FIU came out of the half to extend its lead to double-figures, 40-30, following a 3-pointer by senior Gaby Belardo at the 17:39 mark of the second half. The Panthers maintained their double-figure advantage for the remainder of the game, holding ASU to a season-low 61 points.   

With the win, the Panthers improve to 2-2 on the year, while Head Coach Richard Pitino picked up his first-career victory at home and in SBC play.     
The Panthers will to host the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday, Dec. 1. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to follow @FIUMensBBall on Twitter, and "Like" FIU men's basketball on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/FIU-Mens-Basketball) for the latest Panther basketball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics). 

For FIU men's basketball ticket information, contact the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME or log on to www.FIUSports.com.

About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. 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 50,000 students in two campuses 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. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu