HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — In a close match, Jayden Brewer shined for Florida International University (FIU), contributing significantly to their triumph over Western Kentucky with a final score of 64-61 on Tuesday during the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament. Brewer’s performance was pivotal in breaking FIU’s recent losing streak and securing their advancement in the competition.
With the victory, FIU, seeded tenth, now moves forward to face the second-seeded Jackson State on Wednesday. This achievement comes as a much-needed boost for the Panthers, who had previously lost six out of seven games leading up to the tournament.
In addition to his 17 points, Brewer also bolstered his team’s defense with eight rebounds and three steals. Team member Asim Jones was equally instrumental, contributing 17 points, hitting 4 out of 6 from the field, and excelling at the free-throw line by making 8 of 9 attempts. Jones also added five rebounds to his record. Ashton Williamson supported the team’s effort by scoring 11 points and collecting six rebounds.
Western Kentucky, who entered the tournament as the seventh seed with a record of 17-15, found their main contributors in Braxton Bayless, who scored 12 points, and Enoch Kalambay, who added 11 points to the scoreboard.
The match marked the end of a tough period for the Panthers, providing an opportunity for a strong comeback in the tournament. Coach and fans alike are hopeful that this victory will propel the team to further success in the coming games against stronger opponents.
