MIAMI, Fla. – The Jacksonville State men's basketball team fell in the first of a two-game set to Florida International on Friday, falling 74-70 at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
 
Late turnovers and no field goals in the final five minutes of the game doomed the Gamecocks (3-2). On the other end of the court, the Panthers (4-0) overcame an eight-point deficit and outscored Jax State 16-6 with the help of four JSU turnovers after the second period's 5:02 mark.
 
"We had too many live-ball turnovers. Especially late," Head Coach Ray Harper said. "We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball, and we were 13-for-23 from the free-throw line. But we had some key turnovers late that we could have capitalized on."
 
The momentum was in Jacksonville State's favor late. Junior Jalen Finch hit a step-back jumper to extend the JSU lead to a game-high eight points with 5:15 to play, but things cooled off for the Gamecocks following the shot.
 
Jax State managed just four points from that point on, going 4-for-7 from the charity stripe, while FIU hit four field goals and eight free throws. Junior guard Antonio Daye, who tallied a career-high 28 points Friday, scored 11 of the Panthers' final 14 points.
 
The Gamecocks scored 35 points in each half. Senior guard Darian Adams tied his career-high with 20 points, hitting seven of 15 attempts and going 2-for-2 from the line. Of his seven baskets, four came from beyond the arc.
 
Finch recorded his second double-digit scoring effort in a row with 16 points, and Demaree King pitched in 10 points on three buckets and a pair of free throws.
 
After a slow start to the game, outscored 11-0 through the first four minutes, Jacksonville State adjusted to FIU's press defense and began putting points on the board. Adams carried the offense over the next 16 minutes and led Jax State in scoring with 14 points. The senior hit a pair of 3-pointers and took advantage of shots in the paint, going 3-for-5 inside the arc with a pair of free throws.
 
The Gamecocks outscored the Panthers 9-7 through the final five minutes of the first period to pull within three, 38-35, before halftime.
 
"We'll go back and watch tape to see how we can get better, but I'm proud of our kids," Harper said. "We competed and played hard. We dug ourselves a hole right out of the gate, but we chipped away at them the whole game. They're a good basketball team that puts a lot of pressure on you."
 
Jax State meets FIU again Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. at Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The game will broadcast on C-USA TV. Following the final game in Miami, the Gamecocks head to Cookeville, Tenn., to open the Ohio Valley Conference portion of their schedule with Tennessee Tech on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m.
 
For more information on the JSU men's basketball team, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSUGamecocksMBB) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocksMBB). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks) and Instagram (@JSUGamecocks).