WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — In a commanding wire-to-wire performance, Florida International dominated Western Kentucky 92-67 in a Conference USA men’s basketball game Saturday at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

The Golden Panthers, playing before a crowd of 804, seized control early with a 45-point first half and never relented, handing the Hilltoppers a decisive defeat to close the regular season.

The most critical stretch of the game came not in a single explosive run, but in Florida International’s sustained defensive pressure and offensive execution from the opening tip. The Golden Panthers established an immediate interior presence, scoring their first five field goals in the paint, and built a double-digit lead within the first eight minutes. Western Kentucky struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Florida International’s length and activity, particularly from shot-blocker Eric Dibami, who swatted four attempts and altered countless others.

Corey Stephenson led Florida International with 18 points and eight rebounds, spearheading a balanced attack that saw five players score in double figures. Julian Mackey added 17 points, while Hamed Olayinka posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Dibami filled the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four blocks.

For Western Kentucky, Grant Newell scored 17 points and Ryan Myers added 15. Armelo Boone contributed 13 points and eight rebounds, but the Hilltoppers could not overcome a poor shooting afternoon and 15 turnovers, which Florida International converted into 21 points.

The Golden Panthers shot 54% from the field and assisted on 22 of their 34 made baskets, showcasing crisp ball movement against Western Kentucky’s defense. Conversely, the Hilltoppers were held to 39% shooting and connected on just 7 of 24 attempts from three-point range.

Florida International’s lead ballooned to 25 points midway through the second half, effectively silencing any hope of a Western Kentucky comeback. The Golden Panthers’ largest advantage was 27 points, as they consistently answered any modest Hilltopper push with a scoring burst, often culminating in an alley-oop dunk or an open three-pointer.

The victory improved Florida International’s record to 15-16 overall, while Western Kentucky fell to 18-13. The game served as a regular-season finale for both teams ahead of the Conference USA tournament.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Western Kentucky entered with a 59% probability to win and was a 1-point pregame favorite. The combined score of 159 points surpassed the over/under line of 160.

The result avenged a 70-80 home loss for Florida International against Western Kentucky just one month prior on Feb. 7. In that game, Stephenson was held to 13 points, but he was instrumental in the rematch, setting the tone early with his scoring and defensive activity.

Western Kentucky entered the contest having won two of its last three, including a 97-point outburst against UTEP, but could not replicate that offensive efficiency. Florida International, coming off a narrow loss to Middle Tennessee, played one of its most complete games of the season, controlling the paint with a 46-28 scoring advantage inside and outrebounding the Hilltoppers 42-35.

The game was officiated with a tight whistle, resulting in 49 combined personal fouls. The teams shot a total of 58 free throws, with Florida International making 19 of 28 and Western Kentucky converting 14 of 30 opportunities from the line.

With the conference tournament on the horizon, Florida International will look to carry this momentum forward, while Western Kentucky must regroup after a performance that saw them trailing for all but the game’s first 20 seconds.