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Thursday, November 8, 2001
Second-half explosions helps
FIU to 78-64 triumph over Wheeling
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photo by Geoff Anderson
Junior Rodrigo Viegas
soars over a Wheeling Bulldogs' defender for two of his team-high
13 points Thursday night in FIU's 78-64 men's basketball exhibition
win. Down by four at the intermission, the Golden Panthers started
the second half on a 10-0 run and led by as many as 16 points
late in the game. The team opens its regular-season schedule
next Friday, Nov. 16 vs. St. Peter's College in the FIU Tip-Off
Classic at Golden Panther Arena. Call (866) FIU-GAME for tickets.
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 odrigo
Viegas scored a team-high 13 points and teammates Nikola
Novakovic had 11 and Taurance
Johnson, 10, in Florida International University's 78-64
men's basketball exhibition victory over the AAU Wheeling (W.Va.)
Bulldogs, Thursday night at the Golden Panther Arena.
Franklin Paul and Darrius Beard had 16 points
each in the losing Bulldogs' effort.
FIU trailed 34-30 at the break before the Golden Panthers
went on a 10-0 run to open the second half. Wheeling closed to
within 42-40 on a basket by Paul with 13:49, but could get no
closer.
The Golden Panthers regained the momentum, pulling out to
a 56-46 advantage on a John
Boney field goal then took their largest lead of the
night, a 74-58, 16-point bulge when Slavcho
Slavtchev knocked home a three-point basket.
Defense was the main weapon of the Golden Panthers who forced
27 Wheeling turnovers while FIU had 20 steals (six by Viegas
and five more by freshman Carlos
Morban) and blocked four shots.
The defensive stops also energized the offensive end in the
second half which resulted in more fast-break opportunities and
20 for 32 (.625) shooting from the field and 4 of 5 from three-point
range.
"I think we took a step, and I felt like we made a statement
tonight," said FIU head coach Donnie
Marsh. "I'm happy we were able to create the pace
offensively in the second half because of the defensive statement
we made. Now I think we have something we can build on as we
get ready for next week's season opener."
FIU opens its regular season next Friday, Nov. 16 with the
Golden Panthers Tip-Off Classic featuring first-round opponent
St. Peter's, Maine and Texas-San Antonio. Season tickets are
now available. Call the FIU Athletic Ticket Office at (866) FIU-GAME
for more information. |