MIAMI, Fla. – Sophomore guard Denver Jones led FIU with a team-high 27 points on Saturday night, though, FIU came up on the short end of a late comeback run to Rice, 85-78, inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The Owls (16-9, 7-7 C-USA) knocked down 14 threes in the contest to slash the Panthers' three-game home win streak, as FIU slips to 13-13 and 7-8 in the Conference USA.
 
FIU sits in sixth at 7-8 in the league, while Rice hold a half-game lead over the Panthers at 7-7 upon the win.
 
Jones connected on 10-of-14 shots from the floor and hit 6-of-6 at the line in 33 minutes of action, though, fouling out late in the contest, while graduate guard John Williams Jr. exploded for 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting and three rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench.
 
Freshman Arturo Dean finished with 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals, as the first-year tied FIU's freshman single-season steals record (66) – last set by FIU legend Carlos Arroyo during the 1997-98 campaign.
 
Prior to tonight's contest, Dean continued to sit atop the NCAA ranks at fourth in the nation in steals and fifth in the nation in steals per game (2.6).
 
Petar Krivokapic chipped in eight points, two rebounds and a steal, while Javaunte Hawkins contributed seven points, three rebounds and two assists. Mohamed Sanogo added six points, a team-high seven rebounds and two blocks.
 
Rice finished the contest 49.2 percent from the floor, highlighted by splashing 14-of-32 from beyond the arc (43.8%) – led by Quincy Olivari (28) and Travis Evee (24) combining for 10 of the Owls' 14 threes.
 
FIU shot 54.1 percent from the floor, tallying 48 points inside the paint and receiving 16 points on 10 Rice turnovers throughout the night, though, 3-point shooting would be the differential ultimately as the Panthers hit just 4-of-16 from distance (25.0%).
 
Trailing 77-63 with 5:22 remaining, FIU rattled off a 13-2 run to bring the game within one possession with under a minute to play, as Denver Jones took over in scoring 11 of the ensuing 13 points for a 79-76 margin.
 
Jones and Williams Jr. traded a pair of finishes at the rim prior to Jones knocking down a pair at the line to come within single digits, 77-69. Jones then came down to can a three from the top of the key (77-74) before answering Rice free throws with pair of his own from the stripe after a shooting foul upon a Rice timeout with 0:50 on the clock, 79-76.
 
The Owls would be sent to the line to hit two for a 81-76 lead, the Panthers lost the ball on the other end to foul out with 16 seconds left and ultimately see Rice extend the margin at the line in the bonus down the stretch for the 85-78 final at the horn.
 
UP NEXT
FIU receives a week hiatus prior to traveling to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to face Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Feb. 18. Tip-off is slated for a 6 p.m. ET start to be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU basketball home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE.
 
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