BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) – Dennis Mavin scored 15, including a game-winning, half-court heave as time expired, to lift Florida International over seventh-seeded Texas-San Antonio in the opening round of the Conference USA tournament on Wednesday.
Mavin added nine rebounds and five assists, and Ray Rodriguez scored 14 for No. 10 seed FIU (16-16), which will play second-seeded UTEP on Thursday.
A 7-0 run gave UTSA (14-16) a two-point lead with 1:59 remaining.
Mavin’s layup 11 seconds later tied it at 51 and Daviyon Draper’s jumper, after two FIU offensive rebounds, gave the Golden Panthers a 53-51 lead with 46 seconds to play.
After a UTSA turnover, Rodriguez hit 1 of 2 free throws, but Keon Lewis hit a 3-pointer for the Roadrunners to make it 54-all with four seconds left, setting up Mavin’s heroics.
Ryan Bowie scored 25 and Lewis added 13 with four steals for the Roadrunners. Jeromie Hill, UTSA’s leading scorer (16.3 per game), had seven points on 2-of-16 shooting.
Mavin moved into third on FIU’s single-season scoring list with 546.
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