Slam dunk: Basketball teams win home openers

The men’s team beat Florida Memorial in front of more than 2,700 fans and the women’s team silenced Jacksonville as both teams gave fans something to cheer about.

Isiah Thomas earned his first win as a college coach on Nov. 17 when Phil Gary Jr. scored a season-high 27 points to help FIU beat Florida Memorial 88-82, in the basketball team’s season opener at U.S. Century Bank Arena.

The Golden Panthers improved to 1-3 in Thomas’ first season.

Head coach Isiah Thomas (second from right) watches the Panthers as they worked the court and earned him his first intercollegiate coaching win.

FIU struggled to put the game away, but Marvin Roberts made a 3-pointer with 2-1/2 minutes left to play that put FIU up for good. Roberts, who came into the game as FIU’s leading scorer averaging 19 points per game, finished with his first intercollegiate double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Senior J.C. Otero, who missed most of last season after undergoing knee surgery, came up with career highs of 16 points and 14 rebounds. FIU also got double-digit performances from Marlon Bright with 11 points and Stephon Weaver with 10.

The announced crowd of 2,726 ranked as the fifth largest ever to witness a college game at U.S. Century Bank Arena.

The Golden Panthers now prepare for the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer Miami Subregional this weekend, beginning with Friday’s double-header featuring James Madison versus Murray State at 4 p.m., followed by FIU hosting North Carolina Central at 7 p.m. For tickets and information, call 305-FIU-GAME.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Women’s team comes together for home-court victory

The women’s basketball team played just as that – a team – in its 67-41 victory over Jacksonville on Tuesday night. Five Panthers posted double figures in scoring in their home opening win.

Junior Michelle Gonzalez led the team with 20 points, Ashley Traugott followed with 13 and Fanni Hutlassa, Marquita Adley and Maja Krajacic all chipped in 10 points. Adley continued her unstoppable start to the season by posting her third consecutive double-double (10 points, 15 rebounds), tying  her personal best for most double-doubles in a season.

The Golden Panthers (2-1) hit 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from three-point range while limiting the Dolphins (0-2) to 23.1 percent (3-of-13) for the night. They also dished out a season-high 16 assists while holding Jacksonville to just four.

FIU heads to Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday for a 7 p.m. tipoff.