MIAMI– Making less than ten field goals in both halves, FIU men's basketball (9-9, 2-5 CUSA) dropped its fourth consecutive game and fell to 2-5 in conference play, losing 76-63 to Sam Houston (11-7, 3-4) on Saturday.

"Tonight was a very disappointing result for us," head coach Jeremy Ballard said. "It's hard to win when you shoot 20 percent from two and miss 15 free throws. We're in the midst of a tough stretch right now, but we can't feel sorry for ourselves. We've got to play our way out of this."

The early portion of the game could have been a sign of things to come for the Panthers - allowing the Bearkats to open up a 7-0 lead four minutes in. The first field goal didn't come for FIU until 15:25, when Julian Mackey nailed a three to make it 8-4.

Thiago Sucatzky provided a big spark for the Panthers over the next stretch, subbing in around the 15 minute mark and providing five points, his first career block and a steal as FIU cut the lead to two.

Sam Houston pulled back away over the next several possessions, stretching the lead to as much as 11, but the Panthers weren't done. A 9-0 run on the back of Corey Stephenson tied the game at 27 heading into the final media timeout of the first, and more free throws put FIU up 35-34 at the break.

A 9-0 run out of the locker room for the Bearkats set the tone for the remainder of the half, as despite Ibrahim Olajuwon cutting it to seven after an and-one, the Panthers never made it closer than six for the remainder of the game. Ashton Williamson and Mackey hit consecutive threes to cut it to 66-60 at the final media, but the Panthers only scored three more points for the rest of the game, losing 76-63 and suffering their fourth straight loss.

Mackey had a strong night, scoring 23 points and adding three assists to lead the Panthers. Stephenson had 14, the only other Panther in double figures on the game. 

UP NEXT

FIU heads out west for the UTEP/New Mexico State portion of the schedule beginning on Thursday.

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