WESTCHESTER, Fla. (Interstat) — In a grinding, physical rematch of an overtime thriller from a month prior, the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders exacted a measure of revenge on the road, holding off the Florida International Golden Panthers 73-67 in a Conference USA men’s basketball clash Thursday night at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

The game, played before a crowd of 1,735, was defined by defensive stands, critical turnovers, and the scoring prowess of Middle Tennessee guard Tre Green. The Blue Raiders (16-14, 8-9) avenged an 88-84 overtime home loss to FIU on Feb. 4, while the Golden Panthers (14-16, 6-11) saw their hopes for a regular-season sweep dashed by a stagnant second-half offensive stretch.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair for the first 30 minutes, featuring 10 ties and 11 lead changes. Neither team led by more than six points until the final minutes. Florida International took a narrow 34-33 lead into halftime, fueled by the interior activity of Hamed Olayinka and the playmaking of Zawdie Jackson.

The second half continued the tense pattern. FIU’s Julian Mackey, who finished with 16 points, hit a 3-pointer with 10:10 remaining to give the Golden Panthers a 54-49 lead, their largest of the game. The momentum, however, shifted decisively over the next four minutes.

The most important sequence of the game began with Middle Tennessee trailing by five. The Blue Raiders clamped down defensively, forcing Florida International into a series of empty possessions. At the other end, the Blue Raiders methodically worked their way back. A driving layup by Kamari Lands cut the deficit, and after a defensive stop, Jahvin Carter drilled a crucial 3-pointer from the wing to tie the game at 54 with 8:21 left. The shot ignited a 14-4 Middle Tennessee run over a span of just over four minutes.

During that decisive stretch, the Golden Panthers committed three turnovers and missed four consecutive field goal attempts, hampered by the shot-blocking presence of Lands and Torey Alston. Meanwhile, Green, who led all scorers with 25 points, caught fire. The 6-foot-3 guard from Baltimore hit two of his five 3-pointers during the run, including a deep shot that put Middle Tennessee ahead 63-58 with 4:55 remaining. Marcus Whitlock added another triple to extend the lead to eight, and the Blue Raiders never looked back.

Florida International made a final push in the last two minutes. Trailing by six, FIU’ Eric Dibami was fouled on a put-back attempt and converted the free throw to complete a three-point play, cutting the margin to 65-64 with 1:29 on the clock. On the ensuing possession, Middle Tennessee’s Chris Loofe missed a layup, but Lands secured a vital offensive rebound. The Blue Raiders worked the clock, and Carter hit a tough, contested jumper from the elbow to push the lead back to three.

The Golden Panthers had a chance to tie, but Jackson’s 3-point attempt with 16 seconds left was off the mark. Green secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and sank both free throws to seal the victory. FIU’s final points came on a Jackson jumper at the buzzer for the final margin.

Green’s 25-point performance on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc was the offensive cornerstone for Middle Tennessee. Lands, a 6-foot-8 forward from Indianapolis, provided significant support with 15 points, two assists, and two blocks. Carter added 12 points, with 10 coming in the second half.

Florida International was led by a balanced effort. Mackey’s 16 points paced the team, while Dibami, the 6-foot-10 center from Cameroon, recorded a stat line of 13 points, three assists, and four blocks. Corey Stephenson and Jackson each contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively, with Jackson dishing out six assists.

The game was a defensive struggle, with both teams combining for 17 blocks and 27 turnovers. Middle Tennessee’s ability to execute down the stretch, particularly Green’s shot-making and the team’s key offensive rebounds, proved the difference. The Blue Raiders also won despite the total score falling well under the pregame over/under line of 152.5.

With the win, Middle Tennessee moves above .500 in conference play and builds momentum heading into its regular-season finale at Missouri State on Saturday. Florida International, which had won three of its last five, will look to regroup at home against Western Kentucky, also on Saturday.