By: Malcolm Shields / Staff Writer
The Golden Panthers returned home on Dec. 3 to take on Alabama State looking to right themselves after a loss two days earlier. FIU continued its early season inconsistent play on both sides of the floor. Despite that, the game came down to the final seconds, but the Golden Panthers were unable to hit a last second shot as Alabama State defeated FIU 60-57 at US Century Bank Arena.
Tied at 55 with 1:23 remaining in the game, FIU had the opportunity to take the lead but DeJuan Wright missed on a jumper driving on the baseline to the hoop. In the following possession, Kenderek Washington drilled a three pointer from the left corner to give the Hornets a 58-55 lead with 42.4 seconds remaining. FIU countered when Dominique Ferguson scored a basket with 20.2 seconds remaining and was fouled. Ferguson was not able to hit the free throw to tie it up.
After being fouled, Ivory White made two clutch free throws for the Hornets to take a 60-57 lead with 19.8 seconds remaining. After a missed shot by Phil Taylor with 7.4 seconds remaining, the game came down to one possession. On a long inbound pass into the backcourt a mad scramble occurred as Jeremy Allen forced up desperation three pointer which was off line.
“We wanted to drive the ball and get to the basket try to get two points or get to the foul line. Phil Taylor elected to take the three,” coach Isiah Thomas said of the last 19.8 seconds. “We had two out of bounds plays called where were trying to get a three point shot in the deep corner or try to get a shot out top.”
Wright finished the game with a career high 26 points and added five rebounds in 38 minutes of play. “Not good enough,” a dejected Wright said afterwards. “It just wasn’t good enough because we did not get the [win].”
Offense was scarce for both teams early on. In the first three minutes of the first half the Golden Panthers got quick buckets off of Alabama State turnovers as the Golden Panthers used the ¾ and full court press. Turnovers which have plagued the Golden Panthers continued in the first half as FIU turned the ball over 12 times. FIU committed 19 turnovers in the game total.
“Another poor performance,” Thomas said. “Can’t seem to make a pass from A to B. We are not playing well. We just had mental breakdowns. The last two games we have tried to find different combinations used different players. We just have to keep searching until we find the right group. Right now, we are still a work in progress.”
The offense began to pickup late in the half. FIU went on a 6-2 run which was capped off on a Ferguson dunk off of a steal to give the Golden Panther a 19-11 lead. The Hornets responded with a 6-0 run of their own to cut the lead to 19-17. FIU countered with a 10-4 run in the final minutes of the half to take a 29-21 lead into halftime.
After holding Alabama State to 26.9 percent shooting in the first half, the Hornets began the second half with a 10-2 run which was fueled by Jeff Middlebrooks and Tramaine Butler in the first five minutes to tie the game at 31-31. After the run, FIU went back to the full court press and went with a smaller lineup.
The Hornets got hot shooting from behind the arch, as they made 6-of-11 shots in the second half. Alabama State went on another 8-3 run to take a 43-38 lead. Ivory White’s two consecutive threes gave the Hornets a 48-40 lead with 7:38 remaining.
In the final minutes, FIU (2-5) began to execute their offense as they went on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 51 on an Allen three pointer. Alabama State’s hot shooting from the field kept them in the game as they finish shooting 56 percent from the field in the second half. Alabama State (1-5) was led offensive by Washington who scored 19 points. White chipped in with 10 points for the Hornets.
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