FIU wins its season opener, 60-52, in the FIU/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Classic

Saturday, November 23, 2002

IU men's basketball wins its first game of the season, 60-52, over Morris Brown in the FIU/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Classic at Golden Panther Arena.

photo by Geoff Anderson

Junior Matias goes around a Morris Brown defender on his way to a game-high 19 points in FIU's 60-52 win. The Golden Panthers will now play Iona in the FIU/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Classic Championship Game at 4:00 p.m. at Golden Panther Arena. Morris Brown and Lipscomb will play in the consolation game at 2:00 p.m.

Junior Matias led all scorers with 19 points, going 13-for-15 from the free throw line, as four Golden Panthers finished in double figures. Nikola Novakovic was one rebound away from a double-double finishing with 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Also in double figures were Eulis Baez with 13 points and Al Harris with 11.

FIU had a 42-32 rebounding advantage for the game, as Harris and Baez grabbed eight apiece and Matias brought down seven.

FIU (1-0) scored 31 of its 60 points from the free throw line, ending the game 31-for-44.

The Morris Brown (0-1) defense gave the Golden Panthers all kinds of trouble in the first half, limiting FIU to 22-percent (6-for-27) from the floor, for a 26-26 tie.

The second half was a different story as FIU started on a 7-0 run in the first four minutes. The Golden Panthers ran their lead to 16 points, 57-41, before the Wolverines closed the game with an 11-3 run for a 60-52 win.

The Wolverines were led by Anthony Adams' 16 points and Reshard Alonza's seven rebounds.

"Our team was excited," said FIU head coach Donnie Marsh. "(The coaches) had to calm them down. We really stepped up in the second half. It's a goal for us this season to go to the free throw line alot. From a defensive perspective, I thought we really clamped down when we needed to."

The FIU/Hampton Inn Tip-Off Classic continues tomorrow with Morris Brown and Lipscomb facing off at 2:00 p.m., followed by the championship game of FIU-Iona at 4:00 p.m. Call (305) FIU-GAME for ticket information.