RUSTON, La.— Connecting on a season-high 13 three-pointers and using a 14-0 run midway through the second half, FIU men's basketball (14-15, 7-11 CUSA) closed its road schedule by taking down Louisiana Tech (16-13, 9-9) 84-76 on Saturday.
I'm proud of our guys for how they responded after what happened Thursday. Thursday definitely wasn't our best performance," head coach Jeremy Ballard said. "Credit to Sam Houston, they played really well and we didn't. We simply did not play up to our standard. For us to come back and face LA Tech, one of the best teams in the conference, at home and gut out a win after being down seven or eight points in the second half says a lot about the character of this team. I'm also really proud of our coaching staff for the diligent work they put in to make sure our guys were prepared and ready to compete today. That was huge.
As if it were an omen, Zawdie Jackson connected on a three on the first shot of the game as the Panthers pushed in front early. The lead was 20-10 after a pair of Brit Harris free ones at 13:10.
Over the next four minutes, the offense denied up for the Panthers, allowing the home team to get back in it. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to as much as seven before Eric Dibami put a defender in a spin cycle and ended the drought at 5:24.
FIU continued to get itself back in the game, seeing a Thiago Sucatzky jumper and a Mackey three fall, followed by Dibami going 2-2 from the line, heading into the break up by one.
The three-ball remained sensational for the Panthers in the second half. Allowing the lead to stretch to eight, but cutting it back to 4, FIU went on a 14-0 run over the span of 2:30 to regain control.
The Panthers locked in and scored on four straight possessions. Corey Stephenson hit a jumper then nailed a three, followed by a Julian Mackey three from the top of the key at 7:46 and then a subsequent Brit Harris steal, who pulled up and buried his lone three of the game at 7:30. FIU led 63-59 at the under-eight.
Mackey buried another big three a few possessions later, but the keynote proved to be a Jackson and-one conversion with a little over five minutes remaining - he grabbed a miss and was fouled, sinking the free throw and making it a 72-64 game.
Dibami and Hamed Olayinka recorded the next two field goals for the Panthers, with Olayinka's at 1:02 left coming on an offensive rebound and essentially sealing the game. Jackson hit all his remaining free throws and the Panthers earned their first win in Ruston since 2001 by a score of 84-76.
Stephenson led the way with 19, followed closely by Jackson's 17, who is now 20-for-his-last 20 at the line after consecutive 9-9 performances.
Mackey had an outstanding game from three, knocking down a season-high 5 and scoring 16 total points. Dibami also had 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals - a line not achieved by a Panther since Daviyon Draper did it on 1/23/16 against UTEP.
The Panthers went 13/23 from three, a 56.5% rate, their highest mark (min. 13 makes) since 1/16/20 at UAB (16-23, .696). 13 threes were also a season-best.
It was the team's first win in Ruston since 2/25/01, a 49-45 win.
UP NEXT
FIU comes home to battle Middle Tennessee on 305 Day on Thursday. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.
TICKETS
For more information on FIU men's basketball tickets, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
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