FIU defeats New Mexico St 89-74
New Mexico St Falls Short at FIU, 89-74
In a high-scoring conference showdown, Florida International University (FIU) emerged victorious over New Mexico State (NMS), 89-74, on Saturday night at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
The game tipped off with FIU taking an early lead, but NMS fought back to trail by just five points at halftime. The Panthers regained control in the second half, building a 15-point cushion that ultimately proved insurmountable for the Aggies.
Corey Stephenson led FIU's attack, scoring 21 points on 3-4 three-point shooting and 58.3% from the field. Eric Dibami added 16 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists off the bench, while Zawdie Jackson chipped in with four assists and eight points.
For NMS, Anthony Wrzeszcz led the way with 15 points on 4-12 three-point shooting, but his team's offense struggled from beyond the arc, going just 36.0% from deep. Chris Terrell contributed seven points and four rebounds off the bench for the Aggies.
The key to FIU's success lay in their balanced attack, which outscored NMS in all five categories: field goals (53.0% vs 49.0%), two-pointers (56.1% vs 62.1%), three-pointers (44.0% vs 36.0%), free throws (73.0% vs 67.0%), and rebounds (38-26). The Panthers also outscored NMS in fast break points (17-14) and points off turnovers (21-15).
While NMS showed moments of resilience, including a brief period where they trailed by just two points, FIU's superiority was evident throughout the game. The Panthers' victory marked their first conference win of the season, while the Aggies fell to 0-3 in the league.