Missing its top two tacklers and facing the eighth-best rushing team in the nation in Tulane could have made for a long night for FIU on Saturday at Riccardo Silva Stadium.

It was a long night after all – but for the Tulane defense.

FIU used a balanced offense that tallied 438 yards, churned clock and wore down the Green Wave defense in a 23-10 victory.

The Panthers (4-2) rushed for 218 yards, threw for 220 yards and possessed the ball for 36:50 on a hot, humid night in Miami that had several Tulane defenders with their hands on their hips throughout the game.

With a 4-2 record, FIU matches the 2011 FIU team for the best start in the program's 16-year history. The 2011 FIU team finished 8-5 and played in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

Tulane (3-3) entered the game averaging 293 rushing yards per game which was the eighth-best rushing attack in the NCAA. The FIU defense limited the Green Wave to 81 yards on the ground in the first half. Tulane finished with 203 rushing yards, 90 yards below its season average.

FIU struck first late in the opening quarter when quarterback Alex McGough scrambled to find tight end Pharoah McKever for a 12-yard touchdown pass in the front left corner of the end zone.

The score was set up by two passes from McGough to Thomas Owens. The duo connected on a 13-yard pass to open the drive. Later, Owens caught a short pass and ran 58 yards to the Tulane 8. Owens had 152 receiving yards.

The Panthers defense played without linebackers Treyvon Williams and Anthony Wint, who are first and second on the team in tackles. However, the FIU defense stood the test of the Green Wave's vaunted offense. FIU limited Tulane to just three points until late in the third quarter.

FIU redshirt freshman kicker Jose Borregales added to the FIU lead with field goals in the second and third quarters. The Panthers led 13-3 before the Green Wave finally found the end zone.

With 5:25 left in the third quarter, Tulane leading rusher Dontrell Hilliard scored on a 12-yard run. Hilliard (90 rushing yards) was held under 100 yards after rushing for 175 yards last week against Tulsa.

The score cut the FIU lead to 13-10.

FIU answered early in the fourth quarter to regain its two-score lead with more of its bruising ground game. The Panthers went 78 yards – all rushing – before Shawndarrius Phillips hit pay dirt from three yards out for his first career touchdown. Phillips ran for 40 yards on the drive. McGough took care of the other 38 yards, including a 22-yard run.

Alex Gardner led FIU with 79 rushing yards. Freshman D'Vonte Price saw his first extensive action of the season and didn't disappoint rushing for 51 yards on six carries. Phillips rushed for 40 yards. McGough had 42 yards on the ground.

FIU led 20-10 with 13:07 left in the game.

On the next two Tulane possessions, the FIU defense forced a pair of three-and-outs.

Borregales hit his third field goal of the game with 5:30 left in the fourth quarter to extend the FIU lead to 23-10. Borregales has now made 9 of 10 field goals on the season.

Tulane quarterback Jonathan Banks managed to drive the Green Wave to the FIU 17 on their final drive. But Fermin Silva and Fred Russ extinguished the drive and the game for Tulane with a sack of Banks on fouth-and-8.

Silva led the Panthers with eight tackles – three of those for loss. Sage Lewis and Russ each had six tackles.

Tulane, which had 30 first downs in the first half against Tulsa last week, could only collect 18 first downs against FIU in the entire game.

FIU has its bye week next weekend before resuming play. The Panthers' next game is at Marshall on Oct. 28.