The Florida Atlantic Owls played host to the Florida International University Panthers.
It was not for the annual Don Shula Bowl in the month of January,
The game had excitement down to the wire.
The FIU men’s basketball team turned in two key defensive stops in the final four seconds, and Antonio Daye, Jr. hit two free throws with less than one second left to secure the victory for the Panthers, as FIU (13-7, 4-3 Conference USA) pulled out a thrilling 78-74 win over Florida Atlantic on Wednesday night in Boca Raton.
The Owls rallied from 12 points down and closed to 76-74 on Michael Forrest’s 3 with 16 seconds left and Brian Beard Jr. missed a pair of free throws at the other end.
But Xavian Stapleton missed a layup with four seconds left.
The Panthers’ win over Florida Atlantic improves its all-time record against the Owls to 24-18 (one win vacated due to NCAA sanctions). The Panthers have won two of the last three games and eight of the last 11.
Adger scored 21, Richardson Maitre added 15 and Stapleton had 13 with nine rebounds for FAU (11-9, 2-5), who have lost four straight.
The teams play again Saturday in Miami.
Photo/FIUBasketball/twitter
