Tuesday, January 14, 2003

Cold shooting FIU loses to New Mexico State, 74-52

ew Mexico State defeats FIU, 74-52, to end a six-game homestand at Golden Panther Arena. Eulis Baez led the Golden Panthers recording his eighth double-double on the year with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Fab Fisher was the second Golden Panther in double-figure points with 10.

New Mexico State (10-4, 2-2 Sun Belt) started off on an 8-1 run to start the first half, punctuated with a three-pointer by Jason Fontenet. FIU (6-10, 0-3 Sun Belt) closed the gap to 10-8, six minutes into the game.

The Aggies opened the lead to 36-21, on a 26-13 run, over the next 13-minutes. NMSU went into the locker room up 39-25.

FIU had an 8-2 lead in points in the paint, but New Mexico State shot 50-percent (12-for-24) from the floor and 54-percent (7-for-13) from three-point range.

After FIU closed to within nine points, 43-34 on a three-point play by Baez, NMSU went on a 8-2 run to open the lead to 15 points, 51-36.

Fisher and Carlos Morban hit two-point baskets for a 52-40 deficit at the 10:41-mark. FIU would not make another field goal for eight minutes, as the Aggies went up 66-46.

Baez ended the drought with a dunk and Carlos Fernandez ending the FIU scoring on a lay-up, as New Mexico State went on to win, 74-52.

The Aggies were led by four players scoring in double-figures, including Fontenet's 14 points and Chris Jackson's eight rebounds.

NMSU shot 52-percent (25-for-48) from the floor, while limiting FIU to 36-percent (20-for-56).

The Golden Panthers will be without the services of two players for the rest of the season. Earlier in the day, FIU head coach Donnie Marsh dismissed sophomore forward Taurance Johnson and junior forward Al Harris from the team.

The Golden Panthers will travel to face Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).