MIAMI, Fla. – Less than 48 hours after putting a scare into NCAA Division I member Florida International University, the Flagler College men's basketball team just fell short to the same team in an 82-75 loss Friday afternoon at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

Florida International, a member of Conference USA, improved to 2-0.

"We were and are well aware of the challenge of playing only NCAA Division I schools before conference play," said head coach Chad Warner. "That being said, I am proud of how together our team is and the level of effort they are competing with."

Flagler led by as many as 11 points in the second half and held a seven-point (72-65) advantage after Jaizec Lotte sank a three-pointer with a little over five minutes left in regulation.

Radshad Davis answered with a pair of treys for FIU to ignite a 17-3 run by the Panthers to close the game.

"I really thought we had our chance to win the game today," said Warner. "We just did not finish the last two and a half minutes well enough. Our time is coming."

Lottie led all scorers with 30 points. He had a game-high 29 points in Wednesday night's exhibition for the Saints. Lottie sank six 3-pointers and made 9-of-17 from the field. Marcus Henderson added 13 points while Chris Metzger and Derrick Ellis, Jr. each added 10 points. Jalen Barr came off the bench to grab a team-high eight rebounds.

The Saints out-rebounded the Panthers 46-40 and made 50 percent (11-of-22) of their shots from three-point range.

Davis led FIU with 28 points, nine rebounds, and added five steals. He sank seven of the team's 13 three-pointers. Antonio Daye, Jr. tacked on 21 points.

The Panthers went 11-of-41 from long range on Wednesday and followed that with a 3-for-22 showing in today's first half. They found the range in the second half knocking down 10-of-19 (52.6 percent).

Flagler returns to the same arena on Wednesday (Dec. 2) to take on Central Michigan University of the Mid-American Conference at 7 p.m.

NOTE: The last time Flagler played a regular season contest against an NCAA Division I opponent was Dec. 12, 2006 at Georgia Southern University. Georgia Southern won 101-67.
 
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