NCAA News Wire
Florida International 69, Florida Gulf Coast 63
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Florida International went on a 12-0 run midway through the second half, and the Panthers posted a 69-63 nonconference win over the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles at Alico Arena on Sunday in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Eagles led 41-37 before Panthers guard Dennis Mavin (game-high 27 points) scored with 12:38 left, starting the game-changing surge. Guard Dominique Williams scored the next two baskets, and forward Adrian Diaz hit a layup. Mavin made one foul shot, and guard Marco Porcher Jimenez’ 3-pointer gave Florida International a 49-41 lead.
The Eagles pulled as close as three points on guard Bernard Thompson’s 3-pointer with 6 1/2 minutes remaining, but the Panthers eventually stretched the lead to 13.
Porcher Jimenez scored 14 points, and forward Daviyon Draper added 10 for Florida International (6-4).
Guard Brett Comer paced Florida Gulf Coast with 15 points. Thompson and guard Julian DuBose added 12 apiece for the Eagles (8-2).
Florida International finished with a 39-27 rebounding edge, led by Draper, who pulled down eight boards. Florida Gulf Coast forwards Nate Hicks and Jamail Jones each had eight rebounds.
The Panthers shot 50 percent (25-for-50) from the floor, while the Eagles hit just 40.4 percent (21-for-52).
Florida International returns to action Thursday at LIU Brooklyn. Florida Gulf Coast plays host to Furman on Friday.
