Northwood Basketball Takes Down Isiah Thomas And The NCAA D-I FIU Panthers
Northwood University Athletics (Florida)

What was initially planned as a quiet, friendly practice game Wednesday night between FIU's new head men's basketball coach Isiah Thomas' Golden Panthers and the venerable Rollie Massimino's Northwood University Seahawks turned into a spirited contest witnessed by more than a few hundred interested fans.
And in the end, it was the veteran Massimino getting the best of the younger Thomas in his very first taste of coaching at the intercollegiate level.

Lester Hunte led all scorers with 18 points and teammate Patrick Horstmann added 13 in Northwood's 71-61 win, a game that was close for 35 minutes before the Seahawks went on a 15-6 run over the final 4:01, to pull away.

Junior college transfers Phil Gary and Marvin Roberts contributed 15 points each, but when it was all said and done, it was Northwood's superior shooting from the field that spelled the difference. The Seahawks shot a consistent 54-percent from the floor, despite turning the ball over 24 times to the FIU defense.

After forcing the 11th tie of the game at 46 on a Tremayne Russell layup, Northwood got up by seven, 56-49, on a pair of Horstmann free throws with 6:53 to play. But FIU battled back, scoring the next six points to close within 56-55 on a Stephon Weaver tip-in moments later.

That would be the Panthers last hurrah of the evening, however, as 3-pointers by Thierno Agne, Jay Duncan and Horstmann led to Northwood's largest lead of the night, 69-56, with just 53 seconds remaining.

The Northwood University Men's Basketball team will be back in action November 12 at home as they take on Crown College at 7:00pm for their regular season opener.