Patrick Chalvire/staff writer
FIU continued their dominance at home as the Panthers defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 87-82 at the U.S. Century Bank Arena in Feb.16, bringing their record to 9-1 in their last ten home games.
(Roberto Jimenez/FIUSM)
In a nationally televised game, FIU came home hoping to rebound after losing on the road to Troy 69-61 on Valentine’s Day. Four Panthers scored in double digits highlighted by 20 points each from Jerome Frink and Tymell Murphy.
Guard Malik Smith came home with a strong showing after Thursday night’s four-point game, scoring 17 points, including three of four from behind the arc.
FIU as a team was deadly from behind the arc, hitting eight out of 17 shots.
“I thought we played really really good basketball for 37 minutes, and not so smart basketball the last three minutes” said Head Coach Richard Pitino.
Defense was the key to the second half.
The Panthers held the Hilltoppers to 43 percent shooting and 31 percent from behind the arc, while the panthers were 52 percent from the field and 42 percent from behind the arc.
The game didn’t go entirely well for the Panthers towards the end of the game.
“Unintelligent,” Pitino called the Panthers’ play late in the game when WKU diminished FIU’s lead to as much as four points. “There were a couple times we should have pulled the ball out.”
Despite the late-game scare, FIU staved off the comeback.
“These guys are not scared to fail, I love that about them.” Pitino said.
The Panthers (14-12, 9-8 SBC) return to the USCBA for the last time this season Thursday, Feb.21 at 7:30pm to take on the University of Little-Rock Arkansas.
