Box Score MIAMI - Florida International jumped out of the gate after the half to defeat the University of New Orleans 75-62 on Sunday afternoon at Pharmed Arena.
Leading UNO (14-7, 4-5 SBC) was Bo McCalebb who scored a game-high 24 points. Shaun Reynolds and James Parlow joined McCalebb in double-figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively. The loss was just the second in eight trips on the road for the Privateers.
FIU (6-13, 3-6 SBC) snapped a four-game losing streak in conference play with the win. The Golden Panthers were led by Alex Galindo, who while scoring just five points in the first half, finished the game with 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
Russell Hicks added 17 points for FIU after starting the game with a strong 5 of 7 first half with 12 points.
The Golden Panthers got off to an early 4-0 lead as UNO missed their first four shots from the field, but it would be the Privateers who got back in it as McCalebb forced steals on consecutive FIU possessions as UNO took their first lead of the game at 6-4.
A Parlow three-pointer gave UNO a 9-6 lead before FIU went on a 8-2 run to take a 14-11 lead. Parlow ended the run with another three-pointer to knot the game at 14 apiece. The Golden Panthers, who opened the game making 8 of 12 shots from the field would jump ahead 20-15 before UNO responded with a 7-0 run.
The flurry of lead changes would continue as the clock wound down in the first half as back to back jumpers by Hicks gave FIU the lead back before UNO again took the advantage back at 28-24 on a 6-0 run. After the eighth tie of the opening half at 28, a three-point play by Badara Ndiaye would provide the margin of three heading into the half with FIU on top 31-28.
Galindo made his first four shots from the field to start the second half as he would score 10 of FIU's first 14 points following the break as the Golden Panthers extended their lead to 11 points at 45-34. UNO struggled shooting, going scoreless for just under six minutes of action until Kechan Myers had a three-point play with 10:45 left in the game.
Another Myers basket would pull UNO within 10 of FIU, but the Golden Panthers offense would continue to hit their shots, not giving the Privateers a chance to close the gap any closer as the host squad made over 50 percent from the field during the game.
The Golden Panthers would extend their lead to 18 with 6:04 left on a Chris Fuller fast break dunk before UNO would cut into the lead, only to see FIU push their lead up to 19. The Privateers would not let the Golden Panthers cruise to the finish line as a late Privateer rally forced FIU to keep up their intensity.
The Privateers will next play in Boca Raton, Fla. on Wednesday night when they face Florida Atlantic. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m Eastern time with the game to be broadcasted on Northshore 990 AM.
A box score will be made available later.
