SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — FIU's football program suffered a 28-21 setback to Missouri State on Wednesday night on the road in Conference USA (CUSA) play. 
 
The Panthers (3-5, 1-3 CUSA) and Bears (5-3, 3-1 CUSA) were deadlocked at 14-all after two quarters, but Missouri State outscored FIU 14-7 in the final two frames to earn the seven-point victory. For the Panthers, Keyone Jenkins passed for 147 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offensive effort. Joe Pesansky was excellent in relief of Jenkins, racking up 72 yards, most of which came on one drive, and his first touchdown pass of the season. 
 
Dallas Payne and Alex Perry caught the two Jenkins' touchdown passes in the first half. Kejon Owens rushed for 63 yards on 18 attempts while Anthony Carrie chipped in 42 yards rushing on nine attempts.
 
FIU had two crucial turnovers on its first two opportunities with the ball as Jenkins fumbled on the Panthers' first drive and kick returner C'Quan Jnopierre muffed a punt after the Panther defense made its second-straight third down stop to begin the game. Jnopierre's fumble turned into seven points quickly for Missouri State as the Bears needed just seven plays from FIU's 24 yard-line to find the end zone. 
 
The Panthers marched right down in response from their own 20 yard line with an impressive 14-play, 80-yard drive that spanned 7:38. Jenkins capped the drive by finding Payne from six yards out to tie the game at 7-7. 
 
After both sides traded possessions to begin the second quarter, the Bears ripped off a long touchdown run to go ahead 14-7 with less than five minutes to go. FIU provided an immediate response once again, this time with an 11-play, 75-yard drive over 3:48. The Panthers tied the game with 44 seconds to go in the first half as Jenkins found Perry for a 25-yard strike for six. 
 
Missouri State controlled possession and kept the FIU offense off the board for much of the second half while the Bears added two touchdowns to take a two-possession lead, the first of the game for either team. Following Missouri State's touchdown with 8:21 to go in the fourth that put the Bears up 28-14, Pesansky responded with a quick 65-yard drive, which ended in a five-yard touchdown pass to Jojo Stone, to get the Panthers within seven points with 3:29 left. 
 
Missouri State was able to run out the clock from there to hold off FIU for the seven-point win. 
 
QUICK NOTES
•           Payne's touchdown was the first of his career. 
•           Stone's touchdown is the first of his career. 
•           Pesansky's touchdown pass is the first of his FIU career and at the FBS-level following a successful tenure at Holy Cross in the FCS. 
•           Shamir Sterlin had a career-high 10 tackles, adding a tackle for loss and pass breakup. 
•           As a team, the Panthers broke up six Missouri State passes. 
•           Johnny Chaney Jr. added eight tackles and had a forced fumble that was recovered by Brian Blades II in the fourth quarter. 
•           Robert Williams contributed to his first-ever sack, finishing with 0.5 sack that he registered in the first quarter. 
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers take on Middle Tennessee on the road next weekend in a CUSA clash on Saturday, Nov. 8 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. for a 3 p.m. kick-off. 
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Football tickets, including season tickets, single game and multi-game package tickets, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
 
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