MIAMI — FIU's men's basketball program cruised past Western Kentucky 85-66 in Conference USA (CUSA) play on Saturday afternoon inside the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
The Panthers (7-8, 1-1 CUSA) stormed out to a 20-5 lead over last season's CUSA Champion-Hilltoppers (10-5, 1-1 CUSA) and maintained a significant advantage for the remainder of the game. FIU scored 52 points in the first half and held a 23-point halftime lead, up 52-29.
Asim Jones poured in a season-high 17 points, making 8-of-11 attempts from the free throw line. Dashon Gittens had 14 points in 29 minutes, making 4-of-7 three-pointers, and adding seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Jonathan Aybar was also in double-digits with 12 points. Jayden Brewer returned to the starting lineup with seven points in 15 minutes and seven rebounds. In total, FIU made a season-high 11 three-pointers and shot 46.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line (20-25).
Defensively, the Panthers held WKU to just 36.8 percent shooting overall and 4-for-22 from deep.
Vianney Salatchoum capped FIU's game-opening run with a jumper in the lane, putting the Panthers up 20-5 with 13:30 left. Jaden Grant knocked down a three with 2:01 left in the first half, ballooning FIU's lead to 24, its biggest lead in the opening 20 minutes.
In the second half, FIU continued to surge as Aybar made a three-pointer with 16:48 left to go up 60-33. Ashton Williamson's layup with 7:33 left gave the Panthers their largest lead of the afternoon, up 28, 75-47. FIU got baskets from George Pridgett, Jr., Travis Gray and a free throw make from Onyx Pastoriza down the stretch to finish off the 85-66 victory.
The 19-point win was FIU's largest in CUSA play since a 19-point win on Feb. 5, 2020 over Florida Atlantic.
UP NEXT
FIU takes on Louisiana Tech in its first CUSA road game of 2025 on Thursday, Jan. 9 in Ruston, La. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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