Andres Rodriguez | PantherNOW
The FIU Men’s Basketball team played back-to-back home games over the past week after snapping their seven-game losing streak during a two-game away stretch.
In these two home games, the Panthers went 1-1, defeating the Sam Houston Bearkats 85-82 in a close OT win but falling to LA Tech for the second time this season, 82-71. The victory over the Bearkats ended their abysmal seven-game skid.
This two-game stretch brought FIU to a 2-9 conference record and an 8-16 overall record, placing them ninth in the C-USA standings.
Heading into a three-game stretch against conference opponents on the road, FIU may feel relieved to have broken their losing streak, but they cannot afford to be complacent, as they still sit second to last in the conference.
In the win against the Bearkats, the Panthers’ top scorer, Junior Guard Jayden Brewer, was electric, posting a game-high 25 points—including all 11 of FIU’s overtime points—while shooting 47% from the field.
Alongside him, senior forward Johnathan Aybar contributed 19 points and nine rebounds, while junior guard Asim Jones added 15 points off the bench.
If FIU hopes to secure a few more wins before the season’s end, they must rely on multiple players stepping up rather than depending on a single standout performance.
Bench production is crucial, as demonstrated by Jones’ contribution against Sam Houston.
However, in the loss to LA Tech, FIU’s bench managed just 14 points—highlighting the need for stronger performances from key reserves.
Additionally, Junior Center Vianney Salatchoum has struggled since returning from injury. Having scored only 14 points combined in his last two games, he needs to regain his form—especially as a defensive anchor—if the Panthers are to turn their season around.
Looking ahead, the FIU Panthers will travel to UTEP on Thursday, Feb. 13, in El Paso, Texas. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m.
About Post Author
