MIAMI - After an impactful win in the conference opener against I-10 rival UTEP, the Aggies headed into Ocean Bank Convocation Center focused on returning home with their first road win of the season. In their first meeting with the Panthers since 2005, NM State fell to FIU 77-67 to move to 1-1 in conference play. This marks the first win FIU has ever had against the Aggies - losing their five previous meetings with NM State.  

Femi Odukale led all Aggie scorers with 16 points, going 6-11 from the field before fouling out late in the second half. Tanahj Pettway provided a spark off the bench as he poured in a season high 14 points in his opening seven minutes of action to help generate the run that brought the Aggies within two points in the second half.  

First Half  

• Coming out of the gate, Arturo Dean gave the Panthers their first points of the night with a three pointer from the right wing with a second left on the shot clock. Jaylin Jackson-Posey answered back with his own shot from beyond the arc to even the score 3-3.  

• It continued to be a back-and-forth battle between the two sides with the only difference being the Panthers' hot shooting from beyond the arc. With 12:07 left Petar Krivokapic made their fifth three pointer of the half to make the score 17-11 in favor of FIU. 

• With 10:45 left, FIU orchestrated a 9-2 run that featured two three pointers from Jaidon Lipscomb – pushing the score to 30-17 with 8:07 left in the first half. 

• After enduring another FIU run late in the first, the Aggies went on a 8-2 run of their own that ended with Femi Odukale making a three-point shot to end the half and make the score 38-30.  

Second Half  

• To start the second half, both teams held their own on defense with no one being able to score for the first 1:15 until Seth Pinkney finished around the rim with a right-handed layup. For the next four minutes the Panthers heated up to go on a 9-3 run to stretch the lead over the Aggies 52-37.  

• Tanahj Pettway would then come in the game and make an impact immediately with two three-point field goals followed by two free throws after being fouled on a layup to accumulate eight points in less than three minutes of action.  

• Pettway's efforts helped spark a 9-0 Aggie run to shorten the lead to just two points (63-65). Within this stretch, he added 14 points in a matter of seven minutes of play in the second half. 

• In the end, the Aggies missed some opportunities that led to foul trouble and ultimately allowed the Panthers to put together a final 9-2 run. 

NUMBERS OF NOTE 

• Femi Odukale connected on his only two shot attempts from beyond the arc to mark the first time this season that an Aggie was perfect from three while attempting at least two. 

• Despite entering the night averaging 11.4 steals per game to lead all CUSA teams and rank second among all Division I programs, FIU only came up with four steals against the Aggies on Thursday night. This marks the second fewest by an Aggie opponent this season and the fewest for the Panthers this season. 

• For the 20th time this season, an Aggie attempted at least three free throws and did not miss as Brandon Suggs finished 5-5 and Tanahj Pettway finished 4-4. This is also the third time that Suggs has accomplished this feat this season. 

• FIU's ability to knock down the long ball was a rare sight for Aggie opponents this season as they finished the night 13-24 to mark the third most three pointers made by an Aggie opponent and second best three-point percentage by an opponent this season. 

• The Aggie defense limited FIU to its second fewest field goals made this season as they connected on just 20 field goals. 

##NM State##