Sunday, January 5, 2003

FIU can't climb out of early deficit in 71-60 loss to Denver

enver defeats FIU, 71-60, at Golden Panther Arena. Eulis Baez led all scorers with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Al Harris was right behind Baez with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Denver (9-6, 1-0 Sun Belt) started the first half on a 6-0 run, but FIU (6-9, 0-2 SBC) was able to cut the lead to three, 15-12 on two free throws by Harris. The junior led the Golden Panthers in the half with 10 points and three rebounds.

With five minutes to play in the half and Denver up 27-22, the Pioneers went on a 9-5 run to finish the half and take a 36-27 lead. UD forced 10 FIU turnovers and shot 56-percent (14-for-25) from the floor.

The Pioneers continued to build their lead with a 19-5 run over the first seven minutes of the second half.

Down 55-34, FIU would not quit, holding Denver scoreless over the next five and a half minutes. The Golden Panthers, on a 10-0 run, would close the gap to 55-44 at the eight-minute mark. Nikola Novakovic scored five of his seven points in the span.

The Pioneers would match FIU the rest of the way, for a 71-60 victory. Denver was led by Carvell McAlister's 12 points off the bench and Dusty Wadlington's eight assists.

Denver shot 56-percent (28-for-50) for the game, while holding FIU to 42-percent (22-for-52). The Golden Panthers out rebounded its eighth opponent of the season, 34-31.

Before the game, senior Rodrigo Viegas was ruled out with a knee injury. The injury was reoccuring from the ACL and meniscus surgeries he had over the summer.

FIU will finish its six-game homestand against Sun Belt opponent New Mexico State on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Golden Panther Arena.