UTEP beats FIU 85-77 to advance in CUSA tourney

Mar 10, 2017, 12:08 am

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Lee Moore scored a career-high 29 points and sixth-seeded UTEP held off No. 11 seed FIU 85-77 on Wednesday night in a second-round game of the Conference USA tournament.

The Miners (19-13) face No. 3 Marshall (16-15) in a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday.

Earvin Morris Jr. scored 25 points and Dominic Artis added 11 for UTEP, which led 40-29 at halftime. Moore made 12 of 12 free throws and Morris was 9 for 9 as the Miners made 26 of 34 overall.

FIU's Donte McGill tied it at 62 with a 3-pointer, then Adrian Diaz made two free throws and the Panthers led 67-65 with 5:01 left to play.

Artis tied it at 70 on a 3-pointer, Moore and Morris combined for seven points and UTEP was back on top 77-70 with 2:18 left.

Moore's jumper with 39 seconds left made it 80-75 and UTEP won going away.

McGill scored 24 and Daviyon Draper added 17 for FIU (13-19), which split the season series with the Miners.