BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The FIU men's basketball team rallied from down as much as 19 points to come back and tie the game at 70-all with 2:24 to play at UAB on Saturday night, though, the Blazers (17-7, 8-5 C-USA) managed to hang on down the stretch to pull out a 76-72 win inside Bartow Arena and cut FIU's four-game win streak. Three Panthers finished in double figures, led by Denver Jones (22) and Mohamed Sanogo (20), as FIU slips to 12-12 overall and 6-7 in league play.
 
Jones notched his 13^th 20-point performance of the season, hitting 7-of-13 shots, including three 3-pointers and five free throws, while grabbing four rebounds and four steals apiece. Sanogo connected on 9-of-11 shots and 2-of-3 from the line for his second career 20-point contest, while pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Freshman Arturo Dean finished with 15 points, a team-high six assists, four steals and three rebounds to round out FIU's double-digit scorers. Nick Guadarrama added six points, three rebounds and three assists, followed by Petar Krivokapic with five points and three rebounds.
 
Free throws plagued the Panthers down the stretch, hitting just 10-of-17 from the stripe (58.8%) while finishing the game 43.8 percent from the field and connecting on just 6-of-22 from 3-point range (27.3%).
 
UAB finished the contest 48.3 percent from the floor, including 37.5 percent from beyond the arc (6-of-16), and 75.0 percent from the stripe (12-of-16). The Blazers placed five in double figures – seeing four tally 12 points each in Ledarrius Brewer, Jordan Walker, K.J. Buffen and Trey Jemison.
 
The Blazers jumped out on FIU to start, corralling leads as big as 19 points with 5:14 left in the first half, though, the Panthers ended the half strong to trail 42-28 at the intermission.
 
FIU outscored UAB by double digits over the final 20 minutes (44-34), opening the half on a 7-0 run to come within three possessions, capped by a Denver Jones steal for a transition dunk to trim the margin to 42-35. The Panthers continued to build their momentum, seeing a pair of threes from Jones and Nick Guadarrama bring the game within six, 49-43, by the under-16 media (15:31).
 
UAB regained its composure to reclaim a 16-point cushion by the 7:45 mark of the frame at 68-52, though, the Panthers then came alive to rattle off a 13-1 run that'd bring the game within four points with 3:49 to play.

Arturo Dean sparked the run with a steal and transition layup prior to diming Mohamed Sanogo for an oop at 69-58. Denver Jones then buried a big three (69-61), followed by another Sanogo layup and Dean transition layup to force a UAB timeout at 69-65.
 
A pair of UAB free throws extended the lead (70-65), though, Nick Guadarrama answered with a timely corner 3-pointer prior to Dean ripping UAB's Eric Gaines in the backcourt for an easy layup to knot the score at 70-70. UAB's Walker answered with a corner trey of his own, while Jones finished a tough layup on the other end for a one-point game at 73-72 (1:32).
 
On the ensuing possession, the Panthers successfully defended the initial layup, though, UAB's Trey Jemison managed to corral a tip-in to extend a 75-72 lead, as Guadarrama had a good look from three to tie on the other end that came up just short with 0:01 left on the clock.
 
FIU ultimately fouled to see UAB's Jelly Walker hit the game-sealing free throw to walk away with the 76-72 final margin at the horn.
 
UP NEXT
FIU returns to Ocean Bank Convocation Center this week with a pair of crucial games, hosting Lousiana Tech on Thursday, Feb. 9, prior to hosting Rice for its Alumni Game on Saturday, Feb. 11.
 
Both games are slated for a 7 p.m. tip-off 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.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUHoops), Twitter (@FIUHoops), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensBball) for all the latest Men's Basketball news.
 
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