MIAMI– Even though FIU men's basketball (10-11, 3-7 CUSA) held Jacksonville State (11-9, 6-3) to 24 first-half points, the Panthers couldn't respond to the Gamecocks' second-half adjustments, allowing 54 points and losing late 78-74.

In what was a low-scoring early portion of the first half, FIU pulled ahead by seven in the middle part after an Ibrahim Olajuwon jump shot. Jax State cut into that deficit, but converted free throws for the Panthers kept them ahead.

The lead got up to as much as eight after Julian Mackey hit a three at 2:22, and stayed that way into the locker room. FIU held the Gamecocks to just 24 first-half points, despite shooting 10-31 in the frame.

FIU continued to lead the charge coming out of the break. Corey Stephenson hit a pair of shots early, scoring five points and extending the advantage to 15. It was down one to 14 with 16:28 left following a Hamed Olayinka put-back.

Jax State battled back to take the lead over the next seven minutes as the Panthers struggled to get stops. While the Panthers kept having answers, they did not get up by much more than one while not containing the Gamecocks on the other end.

Trailing 70-67, Zawdie Jackson buried a huge three to tie it, and it remained tied over the next few possessions. Jackson went to the line with 59 seconds left and hit both to go up 74-72.

Jax State found the points it needed to, tying the game on free throws and hitting a jump shot with one second left to seal the game. FIU turned the ball over on their next possession, and that was that, dropping it 78-74.

The Panthers have now lost five straight to Jax State and six of the last seven games.

Stephenson (20 points) and Mackey (14) were the two leading scorers for the home team.

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FIU is off for a week before playing Middle Tennessee on the road next Wednesday.

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