Thursday, February 13, 2003

FIU defensive in victory over South Alabama, 56-46

IU snaps its eight-game losing skid with a 56-46 road win over South Alabama in Mobile, AL. Nikola Novakovic led three Golden Panthers (7-15, 1-8 Sun Belt Conference) in double-figure points, with 13.

Junior Matias added 12 points and Eulis Baez recorded his tenth double-double on the season with ten points and ten rebounds.

The win was FIU's first ever in Mobile after four previous defeats.

The Golden Panthers shot 44-percent (20-for-46) from the floor, their highest since Duquesne on December 28.

The game started very uncharacteristically for FIU, as South Alabama (11-12, 5-7 SBC) used its up-tempo approach. The Golden Panthers were able to stay with the Jaguars and eventually slowed it to their normal half-court style.

Belco Bamba caught two early fouls and sat out the rest of the first half. Bamba was the exception though, as both teams had only five fouls called against them.

Matias scored eight of FIU's first 12 points and Novakovic hit back-to-back baskets on his way to seven points in the half.

There were nine lead changes and six ties in the first half, as Baez gave FIU the advantage going into the locker room, 23-22, with a running lay-up.

FIU shot 42-percent (10-for-24) from the floor in the half, while holding the Jaguars to 38-percent (9-for-24).

The Jaguars took the lead right back on a 5-0 run to start the second half. The Golden Panthers answered with one of their own, sparked on a three-point play by Matias.

FIU continued to build its lead on a Carlos Fernandez three-pointer from the near baseline, 38-33. It was the only trey of the game for the Golden Panthers, coming at the 7:56-mark in the game.

The team would widen it to nine points, 42-33, on a Novakovic jumper, followed by a Carlos Morban steal and lay-up. FIU held South Alabama scoreless for four minutes to build the nine-point advantage.

After a free throw, USA's Chris Young hit his fourth three-point basket of the contest to bring the score to 45-40, with 2:32 to play.

FIU would end the game with nine free throws and one field goal, holding the Jaguars to two points in the final minute.

"I am extremely happy for the kids," said head coach Donnie Marsh. "We knew coming in we had to control the tempo of the game and that's exactly what happened.

We defended with a lot of energy, dominated the glass (39-26 rebounding advantage) and limited our turnovers (14)."

Young led the Jaguars with a game-high 14 points, as USA shot 33-percent (15-for-46) from the floor.

Morban continues his assault on the FIU steals record, with four steals on the night. That moves him to 144 on his career and fourth place all time.

FIU concludes its two game road trip on Saturday at New Orleans. The Golden Panthers face the Privateers at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on WAXY 790 AM.