FIU scores ten points in second half in a loss to Dayton

By: Malcolm Shields / Staff Writer

Without the services of leading scorer DeJuan Wright because of injury, the Panthers entered the final game of its four-game road trip against Dayton on Dec. 17. On the shoulders of 6-foot-9 forward Dominique Ferguson, FIU held a healthy eight-point lead at the half.

For the second consecutive game, the Panthers struggled on both ends of the floor as the Flyers outscored FIU 39-10 in the second half to coast to a 61-40 victory at University of Dayton Arena.

“I think that our kids have been on the road for so long. Fatigue got the best of them,” head coach Isiah Thomas said. “They gave all that they could in the first half. The second half, they were just exhausted.”

The Panthers had a balanced attack offensively against the Flyers in the first half, with the combination of Ferguson’s physical play inside the paint and the dribble-penetration of Phil Taylor, FIU held a 15-9 lead midway in the first half. The Panthers defensively were able to hold Dayton (8-3) to one-shot possessions and forced the Flyers into eight turnovers in the half.

The Panthers (3-8) were effective utilizing its 2-3 zone against the Flyers.  FIU shot 54.4 percent from the field and held the Flyers to 34.8 percent shooting.

Ferguson had his most productive halves of the season. He finished the half with 14 points and six rebounds. Ferguson finished three points shy of setting a new career-high in points in the half.

“He had a bounce back game. He didn’t play well the other night at Maryland,” Thomas said. “He was able to bounce back and have a good game.”

Ferguson finished the game with a career-high 20 points. He also added eight rebounds in the game. “I was just in rhythm. I wanted to take advantage of that because I was feeling good,” Ferguson said. “I knew I had to step up.”

The Flyers began the second half with a 9-3 run, which cut FIU’s lead to 33-31. Josh Parker nailed a three-pointer from the left wing to give the Flyers its first lead in the second half at 34-33. The Panthers were careless with the basketball as they turned the ball over five times in the first five minutes of the second half.

The Panthers struggled to slow down the Flyers, who extended their second half run to 24-5. Dayton extended its lead by nine to 46-35 mid way in the second half. Turnovers continued to be an issue for the Panthers as they finished the game with 23 turnovers; 15 total in the second half alone. The Panthers struggled with its shot from the field as they finished shooting 3-of-13 in the second half.

Paul Williams, Parker and Alex Gavrilovic scored 40 of the Flyers 61 points in the game.

The Panthers next game will be at home against Bowling Green on Dec. 22.