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KENNESAW, Ga. (Nov. 9, 2013) – Three Panthers scored in double-figures, including redshirt senior Rakeem Buckles, who score a career-best-tying 20 points, as the FIU men's basketball team (0-2) fell in overtime, 74-72, to the Youngstown State Penguins (2-0), on Saturday afternoon at the KSU Convocation Center, in Kennesaw, Ga.
 
A shot by YSU's Kamren Belin with 00:04 seconds left on the clock in overtime handed the Panthers their second-straight loss to begin the season.
 
The Panthers used an 18-0 run in the second half to jump out to a 65-52 lead with 6:47 left in the game, but the Penguins closed out the half on a 13-0 run to send the contest to overtime. In a contest that saw 17 lead changes and 10 tied scores, it took YSU out-scoring FIU 9-7 in the overtime frame to give the Penguins the two-point victory.
 
Along with his 20 points, Buckles grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to register his second-straight double-double.  The Miami native shot 7-of-16 from the floor in 32 minutes of action. Joining Buckles in double-digit scoring were redshirt senior Raymond Taylor (14 points) and redshirt junior Dennis Mavin (11 points). Taylor grabbed a season-high six boards and dished out seven assists to go along with his 14 points, while Mavin notched his first double-digit outing as a Panther and 16th of his career.  
 
FIU entered halftime tied with the Penguins, 36-36. Led by Taylor's seven points and senior Tymell Murphy's six in the first 20 minutes, the Panthers shot a blistering 52.0 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from beyond the arc. Murphy also led FIU on the glass, grabbing four boards in the first half.
 
The Panthers ended the game shooting 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the floor and 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from 3-point range. FIU converted 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from the free-throw line, while out-rebounding the Penguins, 44-33.
 
FIU scored 13 second-chance points to YSU's seven and held a 28-25 edge in points in the paint.
 
Youngstown State finished the contest shooting 46.6 percent (27-of-58) from the floor and 37.9 percent (11-of-29) from 3-point land. The Penguins had four players in double figures, including Belin, who posted a team-high 17 points.  
 
The overtime contest was the first for the Panthers this season and the first overtime game FIU has taken part in since Feb. 23, 2012 (75-70 loss to Troy at U.S. Century Bank Arena).
 
The Panthers return to action, taking on the Kennesaw State Owls on Sunday, Nov. 10.Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow @FIUMensBBall on Twitter, and “Like” FIU men's basketball on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/FIUMensBBall) 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).


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 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida¹s 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. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/