EL PASO, Texas — FIU's men's basketball program fell 83-76 to UTEP in Conference USA (CUSA) play on Thursday evening on the road. 

The Panthers (10-20, 5-10 CUSA) erased a 16-point halftime deficit to get within six points with less than a minute to go. UTEP (16-15, 7-9 CUSA) was able to fend off the FIU comeback, however, to secure the seven-point victory. 

Jayden Brewer poured in a career-high 23 points to lead the Panthers. Arturo Dean scored 13 points, adding three steals, four assists and four rebounds in 26 minutes. Javaunte Hawkins was also in double-digits with 13 points in 32 minutes. 

FIU went down 16-0 early, but battled back to keep the game within reach at the half. The Panthers started their run with 13:05 down 63-37, pulling within 12 on a Hawkins jumper with 4:30 to go. 

Dante Wilcox knocked down two free throws with 1:08 remaining to get the deficit down to 10. Petar Krivokapic hit a three-pointer with just 39 seconds to go to get FIU within six before UTEP made a jump shot with 30 seconds to go to seal the win. 

As a team, the Panthers closed the game on a 39-19 run. FIU turned the ball over just two times in the second half and forced 23 turnovers, grabbing 14 steals. 

FIU shot 43.9 percent from the field, 25.9 percent from three and 70.4 percent from the free throw line. Brewer accounted for 23 of the Panthers' 38 bench points. 

UP NEXT

The Panthers take on NM State in their final CUSA regular season game on Saturday, March 9 in Las Cruces, New Mexico at 4 p.m. ET.