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Friday, November 2, 2001
Fisher's running jumper
gives FIU, 56-54 exhibition win
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Fisher's running jumper in the paint with
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photo by Geoff Anderson
Junior guard Fab Fisher
drops in the game-winning shot with just 2.5 seconds showing
on the clock as the Golden Panthers beat a select team from Angola,
56-54, Friday night. It's back to practice for the team who plays
its final exhibition game next Thursday, Nov. 8, against the
AAU Wheeling (W.Va.) Bulldogs featuring former FIU player Karel
Rosario.
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2.5 seconds remaining in regulation snapped a 54-54 tie
in helping FIU to a 56-54 exhibition win over an Angola Select
team, Friday at Golden Panther Arena.
Angola tied the game with eight seconds remaining on a pair
of Darryl Battles free throws. But Fisher took the inbounds
pass and ran the length of the floor before sinking the game
winner, and his second basket of the evening, from five feet
out.
Angola had one last chance to score, but Battles' long three-point
attempt rattled off the back rim as time expired.
FIU's Taurance
Johnson led all scorers with 21 points, 15 of those coming
in the second half and Nikola
Novakovic added 13 points for the victorious Golden Panthers.
Angola led 36-32 mid-way through the second when Johnson took
over and scored the next eight points on two treys and a lay-up.
The freshman also showed his versatility in the first half with
three dunks.
The Golden Panthers led by as many as seven, 53-46, with 2:48
remaining. But three-point baskets by Walter Costa and
Battles helped close the gap and set up Fisher's last-second
heroics.
Victor Muzadi led the Angola team with 16 points and
12 rebounds and Afonso Silva added 13 points.
"Overall, I'm pleased, but I'm not ecstatic about what
we did tonight," said FIU head coach Donnie
Marsh who saw his team win despite shooting only 38.6
percent (22-57) from the floor and 43.5 percent (10-23) from
the free throw line.
"We saw enough things to let us know we're capable of
doing some good things on the basketball floor. But we also saw
enough that says we really still have a lot more work to do."
FIU plays one final exhibition game next Thursday night at
Golden Panther Arena against the AAU Wheeling Bulldogs before
opening the regular season on Friday, Nov. 16 against St. Peter's
in the opening round of the FIU Tip-off Classic. |