Saturday, November 30, 2002

FIU uses overtime to stay undefeated, 68-65, over Princeton

IU remains undefeated with an overtime win over Princeton, 68-65, in Princeton, NJ. Nikola Novakovic led the Golden Panthers (4-0) with a season-high 15 points, including nine in the second half and overtime periods.

This is only the second time FIU has gone 4-0 in its history and first in Division I.

Junior Matias and Eulis Baez each scored 14 points. Baez recorded his second consecutive double-double, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.

Senior Fab Fisher hit four free throws in overtime on his way to 12 points for the game to give the Golden Panthers enough of a lead to hang on at the end.

Slavtcho Slavtchev scored six of his seven points in overtime, all on three-point baskets, to start the extra session.

FIU shot 44-percent (24-for-54) for the game, including 75-percent (3-for-4) in overtime. The defense held Princeton to 39-percent (21-for-54) shooting.

Princeton started with a 9-2 run to start the game, as the Tigers hit two three-point baskets within a minute.

FIU would climb back to 16-13 with tough defense and two baskets by Matias. The Golden Panthers would hold Princeton scoreless for over five minutes. Unfortunately, FIU also was in a scoring drought over six minutes.

The Tigers would build their lead to 21-13, before Matias hit a three-pointer and Novakovic made a lay-in to cut the advantage to three again with five minutes to play.

The Princeton margin would be 23-20 going into halftime, as FIU held the Tigers without a basket for the last four minutes of the first half. Matias scored over half of the Golden Panthers points with 11. Baez recorded three steals, over half of his season total to date.

FIU would get a tough break to start the second half as Matias would receive two quick fouls and be on the bench with four at the 16:15 mark. He would return with five minutes to play.

The Golden Panthers didn't let that stop them though, as they would go on a 7-0 run to take a 37-31 advantage with 14:42 to play. Morban had four points in the run, including a spectacular running shot from three feet away.

Princeton took the lead again, making four three-point baskets in a five-minute span, 45-43. With the score 49-47, Baez grabbed a missed shot from Matias and tied the game at 49.

Fisher would give FIU the lead with two free throws, 52-51, with three minutes to play. After Princeton's 11th three-pointer, FIU made two defensive stops, until Novakovic put back a rebound to tie the game at 54 with 32 seconds left.

The Golden Panthers would stop the Tigers from scoring as a Princeton player tripped over Baez, letting the clock to run out.

The overtime period started off with a bang as Slavtchev hit his first two three-pointers of the game, giving FIU a 60-54 advantage. Down the stretch, Fisher nailed four key free throws, including two with 15-seconds left.

Matias hit one of two free throws for a three-point lead with three-seconds remaining, when he fouled out with three-tenths of a second left.

Princeton's Ed Persia would miss both free throws. FIU almost made a costly mistake when Baez throw the inbounds pass over the head of Morban. The Tigers barely had enough time to take a shot, but fell short, preserving the 68-65 FIU win.

FIU won despite going 14-for-28 from the free throw line for the game. The Golden Panthers go to 14-18 overall in overtime and 2-2 under head coach Donnie Marsh.

Princeton was led by Spencer Gloger's 19 points and nine rebounds.

It was a homecoming for head coach Donnie Marsh, who coached at Trenton State College (now known as College of New Jersey) for four years. The college is located just 20 minutes from Princeton's campus.

The undefeated Golden Panthers will come home to Golden Panther Arena on Tuesday night to face George Washington at 7:00 p.m. Call (305) FIU-GAME for ticket information.