Florida International University used a second-half surge Tuesday night, ending WKU Men’s Basketball’s season and its hopes of defending the Conference USA Tournament crown in a 64-61 win for the Panthers.
FIU outscored WKU 42-34 in the second half. FIU guard Jayden Brewer, who battled injury for most of the night, managed 17 points, 11 in the second half, and eight rebounds helping the Panthers survive and advance. Brewer had three of FIU’s seven steals and knocked down seven second-half free throws helping FIU put the game away.
Trailing by six with 16 seconds remaining, senior guard Don McHenry hit WKU’s first 3-point basket of the night, and was fouled for a four-point play opportunity. He converted the free throw, but the Hilltoppers could not force overtime, as McHenry missed the game-tying shot as time expired.
Senior guard Braxton Bayless had the most success on offense for the Hilltoppers, scoring 12 points on 5-8 shooting. The only other player to score in double figures was senior guard Enoch Kalambay, who scored 11.
WKU shot 35.9% from the field, but 1-18 from beyond the arc. WKU turned the ball over 11 times and was blocked four times. The Hilltoppers committed 23 personal fouls, which aided FIU who did not make a field goal in the last 2:32 of the game.
The Panthers shot 9-34 from the field and 2-13 from beyond the arc. The worst 3-point shooting team in the conference did not make a 3-pointer until the 1:01 mark of the first half.
FIU brought the score to five at halftime after trailing by as much as 13. WKU shot 11-31 from the field and 0-9 from beyond the arc in the first half.
First Half
WKU won the tipoff, but FIU opened up the game 2-0 at the 19:28 mark. The Hilltoppers jumped to a 10-8 lead at the 13:04 mark, then went on a 8-0 run, putting them up 18-8 with 6:57 remaining in the half.
WKU held 13-point leads at the 3:28 mark of the first half with a 25-12 lead and at the 1:19 mark with a 27-14 lead. FIU hit its first 3-pointer of the game at the 1:01 mark cutting the lead to 27-17.
The Panthers made a jumper with five seconds remaining, then a miscommunication by the Hilltoppers caused a turnover, where the Panthers hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer cutting the halftime score to 27-22.
Second Half
WKU brought its lead back to nine with a 33-24 lead at the 17:41 mark of the second half. An FIU 3-pointer made it 34-30 at the 15:53 mark.
After back-and-forth scoring between the two teams, the Panthers took their first lead since the game’s opening score of the first half, leading 43-42 with 8:58 remaining.
Tied 55-55 with 1:14 remaining, the Panthers went on a 5-0 run off of free throws giving them a 61-55 lead with 16 seconds remaining.
McHenry knocked down a fast-break 3-pointer and was fouled, setting him up for a four-point play, which put WKU within two, 61-59, with nine seconds remaining.
FIU went 1-2 at the free throw line, which was followed by two made free throws by Bayless, putting WKU within one 62-61.
The Panthers made their last two free throws, putting them up 64-61 with six seconds remaining. McHenry made a running 3-point attempt to tie and force overtime, but it missed as time expired.
Sports Reporter Michael Givner Jr. can be reached at [email protected].