MIAMI, Fla. — Ryan Bowie led three players in double figures with 20 points, but FIU outscored UTSA 47-33 in the second-half to break a halftime tie and register a 79-65 victory on Saturday night at FIU Arena.
Bowie finished with six field goals, including three from behind the arc, and five free throws for his 13th game with at least 20 points this season. Christian Wilson added 16 points and a career-high five steals for the Roadrunners (4-22, 2-11 C-USA)
Meanwhile, Donte McGill led the Panthers (12-14, 6-7 C-USA) with 20 points and Cameron Smith added 18. Adrian Diaz neared a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds for FIU, which shot 57.7 percent en route to snapping a five-game losing streak.
Neither team had more than a one-possession lead through the first 11 minutes and the game featured four ties during that time.
The Panthers started to heat up from the floor and made 9-of-11 attempts during one stretch for a 26-17 lead. Diaz’s layup with 5:18 to play before halftime gave the home squad a 28-19 advantage, but the Roadrunners responded with a 13-2 run to take a 32-30 lead.
Bowie started the rally with three free throws after he was fouled on an attempt behind the arc. Harris then converted an old-fashioned three-point play before an FIU basket. Wilson added another three-point play and the Baton Rouge, La., native hit two more free throws following a Bowie basket inside for the lead.
McGill hit a jumper in the paint to provide the final points of the half and pull the teams even, 32-32, at intermission.
The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half and the Roadrunners led 36-34 until FIU went on an 11-0 run for a 45-36 cushion. UTSA slowed the momentum with back-to-back layups, only to watch the Panthers grab a 62-46 advantage with a 13-2 stretch.
The home squad held at least a 12-point lead the rest of the way and Bowie’s tip-in with 22 seconds left were the final points in the 79-65 ledger.
UTSA will return to the Convocation Center next week to play its final two home games, beginning with an 8 p.m. contest against Louisiana Tech (19-6, 8-4 C-USA) on Thursday, Feb. 18.