Feb. 20, 2008

Final Stats |  Action Photos 

BOCA RATON, FL - Nikola Gacesa scored 16 points, connecting on a pair of timely three-point baskets in the second half as Florida International defeated rivals Florida Atlantic 72-66 at the FAU Arena Thursday night.

The loss snapped a seven-game home winning-streak for host Florida Atlantic (12-16) and evened the two teams up in the Sun Belt Conference Eastern Division standings.

Florida International (9-16) won for the first time in ten tries this season on the road. Alex Galindo had a game-high 19 points and 7-foot center Russell Hicks added 16, on 7-of-11 shooting from the field.

Trailing at the half 32-27, Florida Atlantic scored the first six points of the second half to take its only lead of the night, 33-32 on a Sean Alarcon three-pointer.

Quieting FAU's season-best home crowd of 1,571, Galindo and Gacesa made good on two three-pointers apiece in the second half. A Gacesa triple with 4:32 remaining allowed the Golden Panthers its biggest lead of the night 66-52.

Paul Graham III scored 18 points for FAU.

Florida Atlantic will next face Middle Tennessee State at home, Saturday night at 7 p.m.