Jayden Brewer led FIU with 20 points
Source: Florida International University Athletics
Photo: Courtesy
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — FIU’s men’s basketball program fell short in its road Conference USA (CUSA) matchup at Sam Houston on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers (7-10, 1-3 CUSA) trailed by nine at the half to the Bearkats (8-9, 1-3 CUSA), but cut their deficit to one, down 57-56 with 6:28 remaining after a made jump shot by Dashon Gittens. Sam Houston knocked down a few timely threes down the stretch, however, to secure the seven-point win, 81-74.
Jayden Brewer led the way for FIU with 20 points on 9-for-16 shooting from the field. Asim Jones and Jonathan Aybarchipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively, in support. Gittens was also in double-figures with 10 points. Aybar notched his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes of action.
Kole Williams delivered a solid performance off the bench with seven points in 18 minutes. The Panthers outscored the Bearkats 44-20 in the paint and had the advantage in second chance points 21-14. FIU also won the rebounding battle 40-37. Sam Houston made 10 threes in the game and went 29-for-34 from the free throw line.
The Panthers raced out to a 10-4 lead early after a made three from Williams. Sam Houston made its push as both teams battled back-and forth. With FIU down five with 2:07 to go, Sam Houston made two threes to close the half and took a nine-point lead to the locker room.
In the second half, the Panthers mounted a comeback after trailing by 11 early in the frame. In a five minute span, FIU cut its deficit to two points with 11:40 left, capped by a Brewer layup, to set the stage for the final minutes. After the aforementioned Gittens layup with 6:28 to go, the Bearkats hit three three-pointers on three-straight possessions to go back up eight.
UP NEXT
FIU heads back to Miami for a tilt with New Mexico State at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Thursday, Jan. 16.
