RE: FIU beats FAU...
FIU Golden Panthers show full strength
With its team finally healthy, FIU got a complete effort in a dominating victory over rival Florida Atlantic.
BY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
So this is what a complete FIU basketball team looks like.
Alex Galindo draining rainbow three-pointers. Josue Soto speeding past the defense on fast breaks and making life miserable defensively for the opposing point guard.
Center Freddy Asprilla dominating the paint. Tremayne Russell with slick drives to the basket. Michael Dominiguez's crafty play on offense and defense and seven-foot center Russell Hicks draining a three-pointer from NBA distance.
With their team completely healthy for the first time this season, all of the Golden Panthers partook in the fun in an 80-53 rout over rival Florida Atlantic at U.S. Century Bank Arena on Saturday night.
''This game showed how much talent we have,'' said Soto, who scored 14 points and was one of four Panthers that scored in double digits. ``It's so easy to play when you have all your guys.''
FULL SPEED AHEAD
FIU, which had its players miss a combined 128 games to injuries this season, now opens the Sun Belt Conference tournament at Louisiana on Wednesday. The Panthers lost to the Ragin' Cajuns 90-73 on Feb. 5.
''This is a team that we feel is 0-0 now,'' FIU coach Sergio Rouco said. ``We have to go to Louisiana. It's a team that spanked us last time, but we now have all our players. It's tournament time and I think we'll make a nice little run.''
The Owls (6-25, 2-16) hung around with the Panthers (12-19, 7-11) in the first half, matching basket for basket until FIU closed out the first 20 minutes on a 7-0 run to take a 37-31 lead into the locker room.
Russell darted past the FAU defense for two quick layups and Soto ended the first half with a three-pointer.
FIU erupted with big runs twice in the second half to finish off FAU.
Led by four three-pointers -- two by Galindo -- and Asprilla's play inside, the Panthers went on a 21-9 run to begin the second half to build a 58-40 lead.
`MORE OPTIONS'
''With everyone back we have the ability to rest some of the guys so everyone doesn't play a lot of minutes,'' said Galindo, who scored 16 points. ``Having everyone healthy just gives us more scoring options. We haven't played the whole year like that. With the whole team we're one of the best teams in the conference like everybody says we are.''
Asprilla, who missed 11 games this season with back spasms, had 18 points and 12 rebounds. The 6-10 center had an easy time over the undersized Owls dropping in layups and dunks.
FIU went on a 20-7 run to end the game, which included some theatrics after what has been a trying regular season.
Six different Panthers scored in the final run, including Hicks, who had never attempted a three-pointer in his playing career.
''[Hicks] has been bugging me the whole week, with `I've never shot a three-pointer in my college career,'' said Rouco. 'I said, `If we have a comfortable lead, shoot it.' ''
FIU was up 71-53 when Hicks ran out beyond the three-point arc by the FIU bench.
There, a wide-open Hicks got a pass from Galindo and drained a three-pointer with plenty of arc.
''No coach had ever let me float beyond the three-point line,'' said Hicks, who scored eight points. ``I told my teammates before the game that I wanted at least one shot.''
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