Dec. 16, 1999

Box Score

MIAMI (AP) - Darius Cook and Marshod Fairweather each scored 16 points to help boost Florida International to a 59-52 victory Thursday night over Illinois-Chicago.

Defense and cold shooting dominated as neither team managed to muster a sustained offense.

FIU (4-3) held Illinois-Chicago to just two points over the first eight minutes, yet led just 12-2 with 11:50 remaining in the first half. The Golden Panthers were ahead 31-23 at the half.

On the night, FIU shot just 32.1 percent from the field on 18-of-56 shooting, while Illinois-Chicago hit on just 19-of-56 for .339.

The Golden Panthers kept Illinois-Chicago (3-6) in the game by converting just 22-of-41 free throw attempts (.537) and at one time in the second half, had a stretch of 1-of-12 from the charity stripe.

T.J. Mixson was the only Flame in double figures with 10 points and UIC dropped its third straight game. Karel Rosario scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the Golden Panthers.

Still, FIU suffered a major setback when 6-foot-10 forward Jabahri Brown was forced to leave the game in the first half with a badly sprained right ankle.