Thursday, February 6, 2003

FIU loses its second straight by two points, 67-65, to Arkansas State

IU's comeback falls short, 67-65, against Arkansas State at Golden Panther Arena.

Eulis Baez fell one rebound short of recording his tenth double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 23 points and grabbing nine boards. Baez was 9-for-10 (90-percent) from the free-throw line and the 23 points are his most vs. a Division I opponent.

Junior Matias was the second Golden Panther in double figures with 14 points and six rebounds. Carlos Morban dished out a game-high six assists.

The Golden Panthers (6-14, 0-7 Sun Belt Conference) once down 16 late in the first half, fought back to as close as one point, 59-58, with 2:24 left in the game.

Arkansas State's Tevoris Thompson, the 12th of the game for ASU, answered with a three-point basket, before FIU closed to within two, 66-64, on six free throws.

After the Indians (11-11, 4-5 SBC) made 1-of-2 from the charity stripe, Morban was fouled. Morban hit the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, but Arkansas State grabbed the rebound to preserve the win.

The Indians were led by Paris London's 16 points and Kim Adams game-high 11 rebounds.

FIU out rebounded its ninth opponent on the season, 32-25. The Indians shot 53-percent (18-for-34) from the floor, while holding the Golden Panthers to 38-percent (22-for-58).

FIU hit 79-percent (19-for-24) from the free-throw line, its best since shooting 89-percent at DePaul on December 18.

ASU took a 38-25 halftime lead on nine three pointers, including four by Jon Beck. The Indians used 12-of-21 shooting (57-percent) and two different 8-0 runs to take the big advantage.

Baez scored 13 points in the first half, including six of FIU's first eight points. The Golden Panthers used a 6-0 run in the half, punctuated by a Nikola Novakovic dunk, to keep FIU close.

FIU will host another Sun Belt Conference opponent in Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. at Golden Panther Arena.