Florida International Runs Out to Lead, Holds Off UT Pan American for 82-65 Win
MIAMI, FLA. -- Darius Cook led four Golden Panthers in double figures with 21 points as Florida International University ran out to a 10-point halftime lead and held off a strong comeback attempt by the University of Texas-Pan American for an 82-65 win in men's basketball action at Golden Panther Arena on Monday night.
The first half of the game was a back-and-forth affair with 12 lead changes and six ties. UTPA stayed close for the first 13 minutes, but a 14-4 FIU run to end the half gave the Golden Panthers a 36-26 at the break. The Golden Panthers quickly extended their lead to 14 points at the start of the second half. But Watara Banks scored 10 of his 17 points during a 14-2 run that pulled UTPA within two at 47-45. FIU responded with a 21-7 run to extend the lead out to 16 points. FIU was never headed after that.
Just 20 seconds into the game the Broncs suffered a key loss when Kyle Sanders took a forearm to the mouth and was forced to sit out the rest of the game. Gary Booker tied his career high with 10 points and pulled down five rebounds off the bench. Banks' 17 points was his second highest total of the season. Brian Merriweather had his normal strong outing with a game high 26 points, including four three-point baskets. Darius Cook led four Golden Panthers in double figures with 21 points. Sylbrin Robinson posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Broncs will return to action on Saturday, February, 12th, at 7:30 p.m. in the UTPA Fieldhouse against Belmont University. The game will be the second of a doubleheader with the women's basketball team, who takes on Belmont at 5:00 p.m.
UT-Pan American Broncs at
Florida International Golden Panthers
Golden Panther Arena, Miami,
Fla.
February 7, 2000
UT-Pan American Broncs (9-13)
No. Name FG FGA 3FG 3FGA FT FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 11 John Braxton, f 2 10 0 4 0 0 5 4 9 4 4 0 5 0 2 31 21 Kyle Sanders, f 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 05 Kwasinda Curtis, g 1 6 0 1 0 0 2 1 3 5 2 3 4 0 2 23 15 Watara Banks, g 5 12 2 4 5 7 2 3 5 1 17 5 6 0 1 35 23 Brian Merriweather, g 9 20 4 11 4 5 2 3 5 1 26 1 0 0 2 37 00 Reggie Kuzet 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 03 Gabe Rhoads 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 10 Carlos Haywood 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 4 2 1 5 0 0 24 12 Gary Booker 5 10 0 0 0 0 2 3 5 3 10 0 0 0 0 23 33 Matt Palmquist 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 4 1 0 0 1 15 Team 4 2 6 Totals 25 63 6 20 9 12 19 19 38 26 65 11 21 0 8 200
Total FG% 1st Half: 11-30 .367 2nd Half: 14-33 .424 Game: .397 Deadball 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-10 .300 2nd Half: 3-10 .300 Game: .300 Rebounds F Throw% 1st Half: 1-2 .500 2nd Half: 8-10 .800 Game: .750 2
Florida International (13-9)
No. Name FG FGA 3FG 3FGA FT FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN 21 Jabahri Brown, f 2 7 0 0 3 8 3 4 7 0 7 2 0 3 1 23 42 Darius Cook, c 9 13 0 0 3 5 3 4 7 1 21 2 2 2 0 28 12 Marshod Fairweather, g 1 10 0 4 2 3 2 2 4 3 4 1 6 0 2 32 30 Carlos Arroyo, g 5 10 4 7 2 2 0 1 1 4 16 5 5 0 3 34 33 Sylbrin Robinson, g 4 7 0 0 3 4 5 5 10 0 11 3 1 0 5 28 01 Fab Fisher 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 0 2 1 0 2 18 34 Ben Schifferer 2 3 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 0 0 1 9 50 Karel Rosario 3 4 0 0 5 7 2 3 5 1 11 1 2 1 1 14 55 Michael Tucker 2 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 6 0 1 0 0 14 Team 0 0 0 Totals 28 57 7 15 19 32 17 20 37 14 82 17 18 6 15 200
Total FG% 1st Half: 12-27 .444 2nd Half: 16-30 .533 Game: .491 Deadball 3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 1-4 .250 2nd Half: 6-11 .545 Game: .467 Rebounds F Throw% 1st Half: 11-19 .579 2nd Half: 8-13 .615 Game: .594 6
Officials: Curtis Shaw, Ken Drayton, Terry Moore
Technical Fouls: Curtis (UTPA) - 2, Arroyo (FIU), FIU Bench. Attendance: 852
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Final UTPA 26 39 65 Florida International 36 46 82