MIAMI– Using 13-3 spread in the middle of the second half and an unconscious 1H stretch from Brit Harris, FIU men's basketball (3-3) closed the FIU MTE with a win over Omaha (2-6), winning 74-61 on Wednesday.

As he did the night before, Harris kick-started a great sequence of basketball for FIU with a 5-0 personal run, nailing a corner three and swiping a ball and dunking it. It was 15-9 Panthers with 10:22 remaining.

FIU continued its torrid stretch over the next several minutes, extending the lead to eight on a Hamed Olayinka finish in the paint, making it 22-14.

Harris aided in a big 9-0 run for the home team down the stretch of the first half as the Panthers pushed the advantage to 34-22. The Mavericks found a little success late, cutting back into it as FIU led 38-31 going into the locker room.

After threes by Corey Stephenson and Julian Mackey out of halftime, the Panthers went into a scoring drought that lasted nearly four minutes. The stretch was ended after Thiago Sucatzky found Mackey back-door on a pretty no-look pass.

FIU found its biggest lead of the game over the next 2:42 - going on a big-time 13-3 run aided by a pair of Zawdie Jackson threes and leading 65-50.

Both teams struggled to find offense over the final couple minutes of the game, but Stephenson's corner three at 1:26 put it out of reach for good as the Panthers dropped the Mavericks 74-61.

Four different Panthers scored 10 or more, but it was Harris who shined the most, scoring a season-high 24 points on 9-16 shooting and four threes. Stephenson (15 points, 9 reb., 3 ast.), Mackey (12) and Jackson (10) rounded out the scoring four for the home team.

Jackson, Ashton Williamson and Thiago Sucatzky each dished four assists in the win, the 12th time three or more players have had four assists in a game since 2002-03 and first since 1/25/24. This win moved Ballard eight away from the FIU all-time record.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return after Thanksgiving to host in-state foe FGCU on Dec. 3.

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.

General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.