David Drucker/ Staff Writer
After upsetting and outpacing a Louisiana Tech team two nights before, the FIU men’s basketball team (9-9, 3-2 in Conference USA) suffered a disappointing 66-60 defeat on Jan. 16 to the University of Southern Mississippi. The Panthers traded the lead through the first half with a Golden Eagles team that entered the game with a 4-11 overall record, but shot a miserable 27.3% in the second half.
“When I talk about the consistency [I want], I talk about consistent effort and I don’t think we gave the same effort tonight that we did [last game],” said Head Coach Anthony Evans.
Junior guard Donte McGill got the Panthers out to a hot start with 17 points on 7-12 shooting, but disappeared later, attempting only three shots in the second half and finishing with 19 points. Senior center Adrian Diaz also finished the game with 19 points, adding two blocks, an assist and a steal in the process. He also picked up four personal fouls.
“They tried to attack Diaz and keep him from getting easy touches. They also sat in the paint and were able to make shots when the clock was running out,” said Evans.
FIU got out to a hot start in the beginning of the game. The Panthers scored the game’s first seven points, but they’ began to have trouble finding open looks against a Golden Eagles defense that was on top of their game. At halftime, the Panthers had a 31-27 edge.
“I think we were taking long shots,” Evans said. “They were packed in the paint, so when we drove, the shots that we normally hit when nobody is there, somebody was there. Now we have to make the extra pass and maybe drive it again or take the midrange shot instead of just settling for a three.”
The Panthers seemed to lack the same energy that they entered the first half with when they retook Lime Court for the second half. The Golden Eagles took their first lead with 15:47 left in the first half. Southern Mississippi senior Kourtlin Jackson was instrumental in his team’s comeback effort; he scored a game-high 23 points, 13 of which came in the second half.
Although FIU got the lead back a couple minutes later as Diaz grinded out a few points in the paint, the Golden Eagles ultimately threw the FIU offense out of balance as they took the lead for a final time with 12:37 left in the second half. The Panthers fell behind as much as 12 points but were able to make a late surge to close the lead to 63-59 with 13.1 seconds to play. The Golden Eagles made the minimal amount of free throws necessary to secure the win and took the contest at 66-60.
The inconsistency of the offense through these games may be what is troubling coach Evans the most. As of Jan 19, LA Tech and Southern Mississippi allow a nearly identical points per game average of 70.8 and 71.6, respectively. Against the former, the Panthers shot 56.9% from the field and 50% from three point range, scoring 88 points. FIU shot only 36% from the field and 17.6% from behind the arc against the Golden Eagles.
Despite Saturday’s disappointing loss, the Panthers leave for Texas Wednesday morning having won four of their last six games, including wins against upper-tier C-USA opponent Western Kentucky University and LA Tech. They will begin their tour of the Lone Star state with a visit to the University of Texas at San Antonio on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. to face the Roadrunners.
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