MIAMI – Tookie Brown recorded 20 points, four assists and a pair of blocked shots, and Georgia Southern used an 8-0 run late in the game to dash by FIU, 75-68, in non-conference men's basketball action Thursday night in FIU Arena.

Ike Smith tallied 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals for Georgia Southern (6-5), and Jake Allsmiller contributed 15 points and three steals. Coye Simmons posted four points and eight rebounds, and Montae Glenn added six points, three rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.

Donte McGill scored 21 points, including 14 in the second half, to lead FIU (3-8), while Michael Kessens had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kimar Williams finished with 15 points and four assists off the bench.

The story
Georgia Southern called timeout trailing 56-55 late in the game and promptly went on an 8-0 run to take control of the contest. Allsmiller hit a triple from the wing out of the timeout, Mike Hughes drove to the basket for a layup and Allsmiller drilled another 3-ball to give GS a 63-56 lead with 3:11 remaining.

FIU called timeout and scored the next three points, but Brown was fouled on the Eagles' next trip down the floor and hit a pair of free throws. GS got another defensive stop, and the Eagles went 8 for 10 from the charity stripe inside the last 1:42 to keep the Panthers at bay. 

The score was tied 35-35 at halftime thanks to a 30-foot 3-pointer by Brown with a man in his face just before the horn sounded to end the first period. The Eagles started the second half with a 14-4 run, and a 3-pointer by Smith from top of key gave the Eagles a 49-39 cushion. McGill scored seven points in a 13-4 Panther spurt, and a Kessens layup trimmed the lead to 53-52 with 9:02 left. The teams traded points from there until Kessens gave FIU the 56-55 lead on a layup with 5:59 to go.

Quotables from head coach Mark Byington
"In the last two games, we've gotten off to great starts, and it's our defense that has been leading the way. We were really locked in. I thought Coye Simmons was terrific. I thought he communicated great, he was helping everybody else out, he brought energy and toughness out there and then when he got his second foul, things got a little bit hairy out there."

On the late run
"We got down one, and I love it when guys take shots like Jake took. He just missed one right before that and then he got open, and I love guys that have courage. You put it all on the line and live with the results, and you're going to be aggressive and you're going to be confident. He made a huge three and backed it up with another one shortly thereafter."

On the timeout
"We were a little bit disorganized on defense, and I wanted to get our defense set up. Then, I wanted the guys to look at the scoreboard and know that it's a one-possession game, we got the ball, we're down one - let's go have some fun these last five minutes. It was time to go make some plays, and we have a lot of guys who can make plays. I wanted them to be excited about the last five minutes, and let's go win it."

Next up
Georgia Southern finishes its four-game road swing at Winthrop Tuesday before returning home to play Fisk Dec. 22. Tipoff in Winthrop Coliseum is set for 11 a.m.

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