FIU upsets George Mason, loses to Virginia Tech in NIT Season Tipoff

By: Malcolm Shields / Staff Writer

The Golden Panthers were able to secure one of the more impressive wins in the three year tenure of Coach Isiah Thomas as FIU was able to fend off a major comeback bid by mid-major power George Mason on Nov. 14 for a 79-76 win in overtime. FIU was unable to advance to the semifinals of the NIT Season Tipoff with a 78-63 loss to Virginia Tech on Nov.15

FIU 79, George Mason 76 (OT)

The Golden Panthers stayed aggressive on the offensive end in the extra frame.

Cameron Bell’s drive to the basket and subsequent three point play gave FIU 69-66 lead early in overtime. He would be followed up by consecutive three pointers by Phil Taylor and Jeremy Allen which staked the Golden Panthers to a 75-68 lead with under two minutes remaining in overtime.

The Patriots made a late push, but a hook shot in the lane by freshman Gilles Dierickx iced the game, giving FIU the a 79-73 lead with 20 seconds remaining. Dierickx finished the game with six points and three rebounds in 26 minutes of play.

“It was a big win for us. I was pleased with how our two seniors played,” coach Isiah Thomas said of DeJuan Wright and Allen. “Both of those kids played a lot of minutes.” Wright finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Allen finished with 20 points in the game.

FIU controlled the pace for much of the second half. The Golden Panthers held a 59-50 lead with 7:42 remaining. The Golden Panthers were hampered by foul trouble the whole game as Dominique Ferguson and Tola Akomolafe fouled out in the second half.

Dierickx played most of the second half and overtime with four fouls. George Mason took advantage and went on a 14-3 run to take a 64-62 lead on a Sherrod Wright three pointer with 3:29 remaining in the half.

With FIU down by two points, Wright scored on a layup and was fouled with 19 seconds to tie the game at 66-66. Wright had a chance to give the Golden Panthers a one point lead but missed the free throw. In the final 10 seconds of regulation, George Mason (1-1) tried to get a decent look at the basket, but the shot by the Patriots’ Ryan Pearson was off line, which sent the game into overtime.

The Golden Panthers (1-0) were efficient in the first half as they held a 36-32 lead. The backcourt combination of Wright and Allen accounted for 25 of the Golden Panthers 36 points in the half.

Virginia Tech 78, FIU 63

The Golden Panthers (1-1) were unable to replicate the same level of play from the night before against George Mason, as Virginia Tech jumped out early and led most of the way.

“Our guys got a little bit fatigued. With the overtime game [the night before] their legs were not as bouncy,” Thomas said. “I thought they fought hard. Thought they came out with a great effort and we will try to keep getting better.”

The second half began the same as the first as FIU continued to struggle to score from the field. At one point, the Golden Panthers trailed by 19 points late  in the game. The Golden Panthers finished shooting 35% from the field. The guard play of Hudson and inside presence of forward Dorian Finney-Smith gave FIU problems the whole game. Hudson finished with 31 points. Finney-Smith finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for Virginia Tech (3-0).

The Golden Panthers’ free throw shooting and defense kept the game close early in the second half. The Golden Panthers adjustment to man to man defense was effective against the Hokies. A drive by Ferguson cut the lead to 39-34. Off of missed shots the Hokies were able to convert baskets in transition and their zone defense gave FIU problems offensively. Jeremy Allen finished with a team high 15 points for the Golden Panthers.

The Golden Panthers came out shooting cold from the field in the first half. FIU shot 3-for-16 from the field five minutes into the game. At one point, FIU trailed 16-7. Virginia Tech extended the lead to 23-12 on a three pointer by Dorenzo Hudson.

Slowly the Golden Panthers kept the game close with their defense and a 11-0 run cut the deficit to 25-23 late in the half on a layup by DeJuan Wright, but the Hokies were able to make a small run late to take the lead into halftime. Hudson finished the half with 16 points. FIU finished shooting 30% from the field in the first half.