Florida International Panthers Outscore Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Ocean Bank Convocation Center
The Florida International Panthers improved their season record with a hard-fought victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The final score read 78-69 in favor of the home team, marking a significant conference game win for the Panthers.
At the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, fans witnessed an intense matchup where both teams displayed competitive spirit and skill. The Florida International Panthers showcased their offensive capabilities by shooting an impressive 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc. Their two-point attempts were particularly effective, with a success rate of 61 percent.
Key players for the Panthers stepped up when it mattered most. The team's ability to convert turnovers into points was crucial, as they scored 27 points off turnovers compared to just 10 by the Hilltoppers. Additionally, Florida International's fast break execution was notable with 14 fast break points.
Defensively, both teams were evenly matched with three blocks each. However, it was in steals where the Panthers showed superiority by claiming 11 steals over seven by their opponents. This defensive hustle contributed significantly to disrupting Western Kentucky's rhythm.
On rebounds, Western Kentucky had an edge with a total of 36 rebounds against Florida International's 25. Despite this disadvantage on the boards, efficient shooting allowed Florida International to maintain control of the game.
The Hilltoppers fought valiantly and managed to keep pace in scoring during both halves but ultimately fell short as they struggled with turnovers throughout the game totaling at 17 which hindered their momentum against a determined Panther defense.
As for individual performances from Western Kentucky Hilltoppers' side; they shot nearly half of their two-pointers successfully and made seven out of twenty-two three-point attempts while maintaining an excellent free throw percentage at around eighty-six percent.
Looking ahead after this exciting match-up at home soil; The next challenge for Florida International will be against Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders back again at Ocean Bank Convocation Center on January twenty-ninth at seven PM Eastern Time zone fans can catch all action live on CUSA TV network via internet broadcast ensuring not to miss any moment from this upcoming encounter.