Panthers Claw at Victory but Blue Raiders Hold Firm in Close Encounter
The Florida International Panthers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders engaged in a tightly contested battle at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, with the visitors narrowly edging out a 68-66 victory. The Panthers' record now stands at an even keel, while the Blue Raiders improved their standing.
The home crowd witnessed a game of runs and rallies as both teams displayed moments of dominance. The Panthers started strong, outscoring the Blue Raiders 39-32 in the first half. However, they could not maintain their momentum after halftime, adding only 27 points to their tally compared to Middle Tennessee's 36.
Florida International's defense was on display with an impressive ten steals and four blocks. Their offense was fueled by fast breaks that contributed to 13 of their total points. Despite being outrebounded by five boards, they managed to keep pace with second-chance points (11) and capitalized on turnovers by scoring 18 points off them.
A key factor for Florida International was their ability to distribute the ball effectively; they finished with nine assists against eight turnovers, reflecting an assists turnover ratio of 1.29. However, shooting accuracy from beyond the arc proved challenging as they made just five three-pointers from twenty-one attempts for a modest twenty-four percent conversion rate.
Conversely, Middle Tennessee showcased resilience despite committing more turnovers (18) than Florida International (8). They were able to convert these into only four points but made up ground through higher efficiency in field goal percentage (44 percent) and two-point shots (49 percent). Their free throw shooting was less effective at fifty-nine percent but still better than that of Florida International who shot sixty-four percent from the line.
The Blue Raiders' defensive efforts were highlighted by matching Florida International's block count while also pulling down more rebounds overall—forty-three compared to thirty-eight for the home team—with a notable advantage on defensive rebounds (28).
As both teams fought tooth-and-nail until the final buzzer sounded, it was ultimately Middle Tennessee who emerged victorious despite six times tied scores and eleven lead changes throughout this conference game.
Looking ahead for Florida International Panthers fans: The team will be visiting Bernard Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville TX where they are scheduled to face off against Sam Houston Bearkats on February 15th at 6:30 PM local time. This matchup can be viewed live on ESPN+ for those following from afar or unable to attend in person.