MIAMI – The FIU men's basketball team jumped out to an early 15-0 lead and never looked back as it posted a decisive 111-48 victory over Trinity College in its home opener on Friday night at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
The Tigers were simply no match for the Panthers as the lead grew to 48-9 at the 5:15 mark of the opening half thanks to a 27-3 spurt.
FIU displayed a diversified offense that featured 11 players scoring in the opening 20 minutes as well as dishing out 17 assists on its first 24 field goals.
The Panthers finished the game shooting 61.5 percent from the field, while connecting on 40-of-65 shot attempts. FIU banged home 15-of-32 attempts from beyond-the-arc for a 46.9 percent success rate.
A total of four FIU players posted double-figure scoring efforts, paced by sophomore
Daniel Parrish, who tabbed a team-high 15. Junior
Tevin Brewer notched 14, while
Clevon Brown and
Aquan Smart each added 11.
Defensively, the Panthers held Trinity without a field goal for the opening 5:16 of regulation and forced 18 turnovers which they turned into 18 points.
Following the hot first half – the Panthers went into the locker room up 63-21 and would go on to outscore the Tigers 48-27 over the final 20.
The 63-point margin of victory marked the largest for FIU since a 70-point win (117-47) over Johnson & Wales on Nov. 9, 2018. The 111 points scored were the most for the Panthers since notching 111 vs. Carver College last season.
The Panthers have posted wins in each of their last nine home openers – dating back to a 69-60 loss vs. Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 17, 2011.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will take to the road for three games in St. Petersburg, Fla., at the Jersey Mike's Classic next week.
FIU will open against Ball State in an 8 p.m. ET tip on Thursday, Nov. 18 before facing Green Bay (Nov. 19/8 p.m.) and UNC Greensboro (Nov. 21/5 p.m.).
FIU will return to the Ocean Bank Convocation Center for a four-game homestand beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 24 in an 11 a.m. matinee vs. North Dakota.
TICKETS
For more information on tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit
HERE.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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(@FIUHoops), Twitter
(@FIUHoops), and Facebook (
Facebook.com/FIUMensBball) for all the latest Men's Basketball news.
General athletic news can also be found at
@FIUSports on Facebook and
@FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
