Ellie Cardelle | Staff Writer
In a nail-biting contest that lasted until the final seconds of the game, the Florida International University men’s basketball team fell short to Howard University, 75-70, in a dramatic finish that showcased both teams’ resilience and determination.
The game tipped off with the Panthers gaining possession of the opening tip-off and quickly setting the tone with their strong defensive presence, most notably from junior Vianney Salatchoum, who also scored the first points of the night, being an all around great performer on both sides of the court. Pressing defense by FIU kept Howard scoreless until almost the four-minute mark of the first half.
The adrenaline was high for FIU with intense and loud leadership on the court, as their voices could be heard from the stands calling plays and routes to their teammates. Despite that energy, the team sometimes struggled to make shots, especially from beyond the arc.
The Bisons showed their toughness with a comeback, tying the game midway through the first half after being down. Cameron Shockley-Okeke of Howard was doing much more than just setting up plays, while also consistently knocking down a number of shots. He scored 21 points by the end of the night, being the most by any player during the game. As the half progressed, the Panthers defense stifled the attempts of Howard to put any points on the board, highlighted by several key blocks from Salatchoum.
There was some excellent ball movement in this game, with FIU orchestrating a well culminated play that included every player on the court, and ended in a layup by junior Jayden Brewer, who is second in Conference USA in points per game. The Bison responded, however, as freshman Blake Harper found Shockley-Okeke for an impressive scoring drive. As the buzzer rang to symbolize the end of the first half, the tied teams were at 35-35, showcasing that it was still anyone’s game.
Second half gets underway with Howard taking the lead off the bat, as senior Bryce Harris hits a three early in the half. The Panthers answered in quick fashion as junior Asim Jones hit a two-point bucket, but Howard was not missing any shots. Following another quick three-pointer by senior Marcus Dockery, the Bisons started to pull away, as the Bisons fast-paced offense had the Panthers defense scrambling around, allowing for Howard to get some easy baskets down low for a 7-point lead.
The game wore on and, despite ample opportunities, it became clear FIU was struggling with their shot accuracy. Many shots were coming off the backboard, including most of the deep range attempts. Salatchoum, however, was a mainstay on defense for the Panthers, even blocking a dunk attempt from Howard.
As the game headed down to its final stretch, the Bisons continued to execute well with Dockery making shots from everywhere on the court. The game slowed with a lot of fouls and timeouts as both teams battled for control.
The game progressed, and with less than nine minutes remaining, the crowd came alive when FIU stole the ball and Dante Wilcox made a fast break to the basket. The game truly reached its peak when, yet again, another steal–this one by freshman Ashton Williamson–led to a tying basket, bringing the game to 57-57 and the crowd to its loudest volume of the night.
Howard quickly regained the lead, now up 67-62, but the Panthers answered with a huge slam dunk by Brewer, narrowing their deficit and putting them back in the game. Now, with only over a minute remaining, and the Bisons up 69-66, FIU took a time-out.
The Panthers were able to close the gap to 71-68, and with 36 seconds remaining, Brewer drew a foul and made both free throws, bringing the score to 70-71. Howard managed to stay ahead by a point until the very last second, when the final-ditch effort–a three-pointer by junior Dashon Gittens–missed the mark and gave the Bisons the victory.
In the end, Howard hung on to win, 75-70, but the display of athleticism and determination shown by both teams proves it could have gone either way. The outcome leaves both the Panthers and the Bisons with a lot to think about as they head into the remainder of their seasons, but for many fans, it was a dynamic showcase of passion and skill that will not forgotten.
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