MIAMI– While the outcome of the game was never in question, FIU men's basketball (7-4) has now won five of its last six after scoring a season-high 121 points, 30 assists and 13 three-pointers in a 121-70 rout of Trinity College of Jacksonville.
"I'm proud of the effort and proud of how we handled the month of December," head coach
Jeremy Ballard said. "We had a lot of good wins and a lot of tough, hard-fought wins. Most importantly, we grew as a team this month. Now the real season begins. A new season where everyone is 0–0. We're excited about the challenge ahead, with the reigning Conference USA champions returning and the preseason conference favorites coming in. It's an exciting time for us."
Eric Dibami got off to a hot start in the game, scoring 6 of the team's first 10 points and grabbing a bunch of rebounds. The Panthers never let the Eagles have more than a 5-0 run, ending any hopes with a 12-0 run capped by an
Ashton Williamson three to lead 21-5.
Leading 68-36 at halftime, the highest halftime lead the Panthers have had this season, the second half was used to get most of the bench involved.
Thiago Sucatzky's and-one at 2:15 of the second half gave the Panthers the highest lead of the game at 54.
All 13 healthy players for the Panthers appeared in the game, including the season debut for
Aydan Clinton - who made a free throw and grabbed a rebound in his first three minutes of Division I action. The Panthers pushed their scoring total to 121, winning 121-70.
Eight different players scored in double figures - the most for the Panthers since they had nine do so against the other Trinity on 12/16/23. Dibami had his first double-double of his career (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Sucatzky had a career-high 15 points to go along with seven assists and three steals.
Corey Stephenson, who was ejected in the second half, still finished with a team-high 19 points.
"[Thiago's] a competitor with a lot of fire in his belly," Ballard said of Sucatzky. "He really wants to win and play well. He's not afraid of the moment at all, and he's going to help us win a lot of games."
Julian Mackey (16),
Kennedy Brown (season-high 12 points and seven boards),
Hamed Olayinka (12),
Zawdie Jackson (10) and Williamson (10) all reached 10 points in the win.
The Panthers head into the holiday break 7-4 and winners of five of their last six.
UP NEXT
The Panthers open Conference USA play with preseason favorite Liberty on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
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