MIAMI — FIU's men's basketball program led wire-to-wire on its way to a 91-84 victory over Kennesaw State at home on Sunday evening. 

The Panthers (2-6) jumped out to a 17-7 lead early on and never looked back, defeating the Owls (4-3) by seven to begin a home stretch that features six of the next seven games inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. 

Javaunte Hawkins earned the start and delivered with 22 points in 26 minutes, matching a career-high. Hawkins knocked down a team-high four three-pointers and finished 7-for-12 from the field. 

Dashon Gittens chipped in 13 points in support and made 5-of-7 free throws, several of which came in the final five minutes. Arturo Dean also had 13 points to lead the bench effort, finishing with seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. 

Jonathan Aybar rounded out FIU's double-digit scorers with 12, of which six of those points came on back-to-back three-point plays in the first half. Jayden Brewer chipped in seven points with two of them coming on a coast-to-coast highlight reel dunk in the second half. 

As a team, FIU forced just 11 turnovers, but limited KSU to 39.4 percent shooting from the field and 28.6 percent shooting from distance. 

The Panthers are now 2-0 when leading at halftime this season. Hawkins' career-high of 22 happened at Eastern Michigan on Dec. 11, 2021, a four-overtime game. 

FIU hosts FGCU on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. The game will be nationally-televised on CBS Sports Network.