MIAMI– It looked like FIU men's basketball (11-13, 4-9 CUSA) was on its way to a double-digit point loss to Delaware (8-16, 4-9) until the final 3:52 of the game, when a furious 18-4 run by the Panthers tied it with seven seconds left - only for the Fightin' Blue Hens to race down and tip in a shot at the buzzer, winning 68-66 in the teams' first meeting as conference foes.
"A very tough way to lose, especially after [Ashton Williamson] hit a once-in-a-lifetime three to tie it," head coach Jeremy Ballard said. "Unfortunately, they got the walk-off bucket. We didn't do a good enough job of following the plan, too many turnovers in the first half and I thought we got a little frustrated in the second and made some undisciplined plays. I'm proud of the effort to battle back and essentially force overtime until that final shot, but that loss was disappointing."
The Panthers started the first half strong despite some misses, leading 13-5 with 12:51 left after Eric Dibami had a tough finish. FIU couldn't capitalize on that lead, allowing the Hens to battle back and take the lead. The teams traded buckets until Zawdie Jackson capped the first half with five points on two shots, leading 30-29 after one.
Delaware took an early lead back in the second frame, and after Thiago Sucatzky found Ibrahim Olajuwon in the paint to cut it to a four-point deficit at 11:52, the Panthers went the next six minutes and change without a field goal, allowing the Hens to storm to a 17-point advantage. Olajuwon's and-one conversion stopped the bleeding at 5:14.
Still down by 14 with 3:52 left, the Panthers charged back into the game, going 7 for their next 8 from the field aided by threes from Williamson and Jackson. Down three and with the ball in the hands of Delaware with 11 seconds left, Corey Stephenson jostled the ball away from UD's Christian Bliss, kicking it out to Williamson who nailed a three from the right elbow to tie it at last at 66.
Bliss ran the ball into the paint on the final possession, missing the layup attempt after being guarded heavily by Stephenson, but Macon Emory found the back-door tip-in at the buzzer, sealing a 68-66 win in a wild one for Delaware.
Dibami (15 points, 13 rebounds) recorded his sixth double-double in an outstanding night, joined by Jackson (14) and Williamson (11) in double-digits in the loss.
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech comes to town Saturday for the teams' first meeting this year.
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