FORT MYERS, Fla. – Sophomore forward Mohamed Sanogo recorded career-highs of 23 points and eight rebounds to lead FIU on Sunday, though, the Panthers came up short to FGCU (7-2) inside Alico Arena in Fort Myers, 74-65. Freshman guard Dashon Gittens added 12 points, as the loss drops FIU to 4-4 on the season.
 
Sanogo, a native of Pittsfield, Mass., eclipsed his career highs in scoring and rebounding for the fourth time this season in a season-high 30 minutes, seeing the 6-foot-9 forward hit a career-best 9-of-10 shots from the floor, while also matching a season-high five free throws on 5-of-6 shooting from the stripe. Additionally, five of Sanogo's eight rebounds came on the offensive end.
 
The sophomore was exceptional for the week, averaging 16.0 points on 91.7 percent shooting (11-for-12), 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks through two contests.
 
The Panthers finished the contest 41.3 percent from the field (26-of-63), suffering from yet another cold night beyond the arc and at the charity stripe on just 4-of-22 shooting from deep (18.2%) and 9-of-15 from the line (60.0%). 42 of FIU's 65 points came from inside the paint.
 
Gittens went 5-for-10 from the field, including two 3-pointers, while pulling down a pair of rebounds. Classmate Arturo Dean recorded eight points, three rebounds, an assist and two steals, followed by sophomore Denver Jones with six points, five rebounds and three assists and steals each. 
 
FGCU finished the contest 44.6 percent from the field (25-of-56) and 37.0 percent from 3-point range on 10-of-27 shooting behind an electric second half that saw the Eagles hit 14-of-27 shots (51.9%), including six threes, over the final 20 minutes.

Three Eagles finished in double figures, led by Zach Anderson with 18 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Caleb Catto (14) and Chase Johnston (11).
 
Additionally, FGCU edged the Panthers on the glass, 37-36, while corralling 16 second chance points off 10 offensive boards for the contest.
 
Sanogo paced the Panthers through the first 20 minutes with 15 first-half points, as both teams played to a 10-10 deadlock by the under-12 media timeout prior to a Sanogo layup and pair of free throws from Petar Krivokapic giving FIU its first lead of the night, 14-12 (9:03). Gittens splashed a three moments later (17-14) before an FGCU five-point spurt reclaimed the edge to force an FIU timeout by the 6:54 mark, 19-17.
 
Out of the break, Denver Jones found Mohamed Sanogo for a big alley-oop, as Arturo Dean ripped an Eagle for a breakaway up-and-under reverse layup to shift the advantage back in FIU's favor, 21-19 (5:05). Both squads exchanged buckets from that point, seeing FIU rattle a five-point spurt on a John Williams Jr. layup and dunk and free throw from Sanogo for a 31-29 lead with 1:07 left. FGCU's Caleb Catto then would go on to hit a three to hand the Eagles the 32-31 advantage at the half.
 
Sunday's first half featured six tied scores and six lead changes, in which the Eagles led for 11:21 of the frame.
 
The second half would be all FGCU, seeing the Eagles come out scorching hot out of the intermission to erupt for a 23-6 run and hold a 13-point margin by the 11:50 mark, 55-42. Five of FGCU's six threes in the frame came during the run.
 
Dean connected on a floater from the short-corner, followed by a Sanogo hook shot, to cut the margin to single digits, 57-48, though, the Eagles kept a persistent attack to extend the double-figure cushion to its largest lead of the night at 16 points with 3:20 remaining, 68-52.
 
The Panthers picked up the urgency, scoring 10 of the ensuing 12 points, capped by a Jayden Brewer three-point play at the line, to cut the margin to eight with 1:28 on the clock, 70-62. FIU continued to rally to come within three possessions, 72-65, with 36 seconds remaining, though, the Eagles would ultimately hold strong at the line to earn the 74-65 victory at the end of regulation.
 
UP NEXT
FIU returns to action in Washington, D.C., when it travels to face Howard on Tuesday, Dec. 13. Tip-off is slated for a 7 p.m. start inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
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