By: Malcolm Shields / Staff Writer
Another game, another down to the wire finish for the Panthers. After being unable to pull off the win a day earlier, the Panthers made enough plays down the stretch to secure a 58-56 victory over Stephen F. Austin at the Lumberjack E-Tech Classic on Dec. 11.
With under two minutes remaining and FIU holding on to a slim one-point lead, guard Phil Taylor nailed a three-pointer to give the Golden Panthers a 58-54 lead.
“They went into a zone. I just found an open seam and DeJuan was in the middle and I just knew that I needed to hit a big shot,” Taylor said afterwards. “DeJuan found me and I knocked down the big three.” Taylor finished the game with six points and five assists.
Jereal Scott trimmed the lead to two on a jumper inside for the Lumberjacks. After Stephen F Austin two committed fouls, DeJuan Wright stepped up to the line for a one-and-one free throw opportunity and missed the free-throw.
The Lumberjacks secured the rebound with 14 seconds remaining down two points. Going for the win, Antonio Bostic hoisted up a three-pointer and missed. A mad scramble began inside the paint. Joe Bright and Desmond Haymon were unable to connect on consecutive putbacks attempts, which sealed the win for FIU.
“I thought tonight we played a complete game. It was a total team effort,” Head Coach Isiah Thomas said. “We did a lot of good things on the basketball court and hopefully we can carry that into the Maryland game.”
Wright finished the game with 18 points.
“I do whatever is needed for my team,” Wright said. “I’m doing whatever coach asks me to do and he puts me into positions to help the team offensively.”
Dominique Ferguson chipped in with 13 points inside for the Panthers. FIU finished shooting over 58 percent from the field and shot 80 percent (12-of-15) from the charity stripe.
The Lumberjacks came out attacking in the first eight minutes of the second half via a 17-4 run to take a 45-39 lead. During the Lumberjack run, FIU went nearly five minutes without a basket from the field. FIU countered with a 10-0 run to give to take a 49- 45 lead via consecutive buckets by Jeremy Allen, Wright, and Ferguson.
After the Lumberjacks took a 50-49 lead on a Darius Gardner three pointer, the Panthers responded with another run to take a 55-50 lead, due to Ferguson’s inside scoring.
Freshman Deric Hill provided quality minutes off the bench running the point for the Panthers in the second half.
“Deric came in and gave us a huge lift off the bench,” Thomas said. Hill finished four points in 21 minutes from the bench.
The Panthers were efficient early on in the first half on the offensive end. Allen and Wright were able to consistently penetrate into the Lumberjacks defense. The Panthers aggressiveness to the hoop was rewarded with nine trips to the free throw line in the first half. With the game tied at 17, FIU closed out the half on an 18-11 run to lead 35-28.
The Panthers finished the first half shooting 63.2 percent (12-of-19) from the field. After a strong start inside by scoring the first nine points for the Lumberjacks, Scott finished the half with 11 points and added six rebounds.
The Panthers continue its road trip on Dec. 14 against the Maryland Terrapins out of the ACC.
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