Late jump shot by Wright breaks six-game losing streak

By: Jackson Wolek/ Staff Writer

DeJuan Wright’s layup with seven seconds to go in overtime brought FIU a thrilling 81-80 victory that finally ended their six-game losing streak on Feb. 3 at Troy.

In a game that brought upon all the intensity and emotion you could ask for, they almost gave it up as they are so accustomed to doing in close games this year. This time, they were able to preserve and grab their fourth win in conference play and second win on the road.

“I liked the intensity of the game and the way both teams were competing. No one was giving an inch and fortunately we were able to come out with the victory,” said Coach Thomas.

The first half the Trojans jumped out to a 9-0 lead over FIU just three minutes into action. The Golden Panthers would answer right back with a run of their own, as they scored 13 unanswered points to get a 15-11 lead with 13:11 remaining in the half.

They held Troy scoreless for five straight minutes thanks to their zone and press defense that gave the Trojans fits. Also, they were able to get leading scorer for the Trojans, Will Weathers, into early foul trouble and force him to sit out a majority of the first half.

At the end of the half, Dominique Ferguson would get an easy dunk at the buzzer off a great pass from Phil Gary to give FIU the slight 35-34 lead.

The second half would go back and forth just like the first half, as the intensity of the game started to pick up as both teams battled against each other for each possession. With the game tied at 72-72 and 54 seconds to go, both teams would finally reach their boiling points.

A mini skirmish broke out near the FIU bench when Gary missed a three and there was a battle for the loose ball. During the exchange, Eric Frederick, who was on the bench at the time, was involved.

The Sun Belt officials threw Frederick out of the game for leaving the bench. When it was all said and done, the Golden Panthers ended up with the ball after a jump ball was called with the possession arrow in their favor.

They could not take advantage of the opportunity of having the ball with 22 seconds left and the shot clock off and Jeremy Allen turned the ball right back over to Troy when he got called with a five-second violation while trying to inbound the ball.

The Trojans let the clock dwindle all the way down until three seconds when Gary committed a foul by tripping up Weathers. Luckily, they were not in the bonus at the time and did not send him to the line, where the Trojans were 14-15 on the night. They would then force Troy into a bad shot off the inbound, and proceeded to overtime.

In the overtime period, FIU would take control first by going on a 7-3 run to start out. At 1:27 left on the clock and Wright at the foul line with FIU up 79-75, it seemed as though they had the game won right there.

He would miss though and Troy would come back and take the lead as they went on a run of their own.

Then, with ten seconds to go and FIU down by one, they would have a chance to inbound the ball again, this time succeeding in doing so. Wright came of a pick set by Gary and went right down the lane as Phil Taylor gave him the ball to put it in with seven seconds on the clock.

“Coach drew up the play during the timeout so I knew I was going to be rolling back to the basket and Phil Taylor gave me a good pass and position to make the shot,” explained Wright on his late game heroics.

Five Panthers scored in double figures, and Gary led the way with 21 points, due in large part to making five of seven from beyond the arc.

“They were in a zone so I was just trying to take what the defense gave me,” said Gary.