HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS– An early 16-0 deficit spelled doom for the rest of the game for FIU men's basketball (13-15, 6-11 CUSA), never getting much closer and falling 100-67 at Sam Houston (20-8, 12-6) on Thursday night.

Down by 16 early, FIU did get to within 10 points at 10:47 after a Julian Mackey three, but that was the closest the team got for the remainder of the game. The lead was 20 with three minutes left in the first, and the Panthers never could get the defensive stops they needed, trailing 50-31 at halftime.

Eric Dibami had five quick points out of the break, but the Bearkats never let up. The second-place Kats got the lead to 30 with 12 minutes left and as much as 34, handing the Panthers their most lopsided loss of the season at 100-67.

Corey Stephenson led the way again with 18, while Zawdie Jackson (13), Dibami (11) and Mackey (10) joined him in double figures. The Panthers grabbed a season-low 24 rebounds in the road loss as the Kats shot 60.3 percent from the field and 65 percent from three.

UP NEXT

FIU heads to Ruston to take on Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

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