Malcolm Shields/Staff Writer
malcolm.shields@fiusm.com
After waiting a week to reflect and learn from a gut-wrenching two-point loss to Florida Atlantic, the Panthers will return to the hardwood on Jan. 28 to face-off against East Divisional rival Western Kentucky at home.
Western Kentucky (6-14, 2-5 SBC) has struggled throughout the entire season. The lowest point for the Hilltoppers came in a 72-70 overtime loss to Louisiana on Jan. 5. In the final seconds, the Ragin’ Cajuns played the final 21 seconds of overtime with six players on the court.
The result ended in a loss for Hilltoppers and its coach, Ken McDonald, who got fired the following day. Interim coach Ray Harper has not faired any better leading the Hilltoppers.
Since taking the reigns, Western Kentucky has posted a 1-3 record; its only win coming against Arkansas-Little Rock a week ago.
The Hilltoppers will be without its point guard Kevin Kaspar, who is out for the season after injuring his knee against UALR.
Derrick Gordon continues to be the constant for the Hilltoppers. The guard leads the team with 12 points per game. In the first meeting against FIU in December, Gordon led WKU with 11 points. Jamal Cook is a combo guard who can play both positions in the backcourt alongside Gordon.
Jockeying for Position
Although FIU (5-14, 2-5 SBC) currently has a losing record in conference play, they currently are in a four-way tie for third place in the Sun Belt Conference Eastern Division along with South Alabama, Troy and Western Kentucky. The schedule does not get any easier for FIU after playing the Hilltoppers.
Three of FIU’s next four games are against teams with winning records in conference play: Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Denver. Consecutive wins against Western Kentucky and Troy would put the Panthers one game under .500 before facing the Owls, Mean Green and Pioneers.
Wright on Absence
Western Kentucky will be DeJuan Wright’s third game back in the starting lineup since being out for over a month due to a leg injury. Wright stated his time on the sideline was valuable. “It helped me tremendously,” Wright said after the South Alabama game.
“I just got to see what goes on and see where I can help. Sitting out for that month really helped my knowledge of the game…It did a lot for me,” Wright said.
Despite back in action, Wright is still wearing a brace on his right knee. In his two games back in uniform, he is averaging 16 points per game.
From the First Meeting
The last time the Panthers faced the Hilltoppers, FIU exploded with 54 second half points and registered two 20-plus point performances by Jeremy Allen (22) and Phil Taylor (20) in an 81-63 win.
The game was the only win the Panthers earned while Wright was out of the lineup.
The major advantage that the Panthers had was its multiple trips to the foul line in the second half.
The Panthers shot 25-of-29 from the charity stripe in the second half alone. Defensively, the Panthers held the Hilltoppers to 34.5 percent shooting for the game.
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