Blue Raiders Dominate at Ocean Bank Convocation Center with Sharp Shooting
The Florida International Panthers faced a challenging contest at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, ending with a 62-92 defeat against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The Panthers' season record now stands at an unenviable 0-0, while the Blue Raiders boast an identical record. The home team struggled to keep pace, scoring 12 in the first quarter and finishing with 62 points, whereas the visitors opened with a strong 35-point quarter and closed out their victory totaling 92 points.
The Panthers' performance was marked by determination despite falling short on execution. They managed to secure six steals over the course of the game and provided ten assists to teammates. However, their shooting accuracy was not as sharp as needed; they made only 23 field goals out of a total of 62 attempts resulting in a modest shooting percentage of just 37 percent from the field. From beyond the arc, they converted five out of twenty attempts which is rounded off to about a mere quarter success rate.
In contrast, Middle Tennessee's offense was firing on all cylinders. Their impressive field goal percentage stood at an outstanding sixty percent after sinking thirty-four shots from fifty-seven attempts. Their prowess from three-point land was even more remarkable; fifteen successful shots from twenty-four attempts gave them an exceptional sixty-two percent conversion rate.
Defensively, both teams had different tales to tell. The Blue Raiders were formidable with nine blocks and three steals while committing nineteen personal fouls throughout playtime. On rebounds, they dominated by pulling down forty compared to Florida International's twenty-nine boards which included nine team rebounds for FIU.
Despite these challenges, Florida International showed resilience in ball handling by maintaining fewer turnovers (eight) than Middle Tennessee (fifteen) and posting slightly better assist-to-turnover ratio (1.25). Additionally, both teams scored ten second-chance points each but it wasn't enough for FIU who trailed significantly in fast break points seven against thirteen for MTU.
Looking ahead after this tough matchup for Florida International Panthers fans can catch their next game against Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters scheduled on February first at six o'clock PM Eastern Time at Thomas Assembly Center located in Ruston LA where they will seek redemption on Louisiana Tech's court which can be watched live by supporters eager for a turnaround performance.