Western Kentucky’s men’s basketball team lost to FIU 92-67 on Saturday afternoon at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center in Miami.

The Hilltoppers finish the regular season 18-13 overall and 11-9 in Conference USA play.

WKU jumped out to a 6-2 start behind an LJ Hackman free throw, a Blaise Keita dunk and a Teagan Moore 3-pointer. After FIU answered with a free throw and a dunk, Moore and Ryan Myers each connected from deep to extend the Hilltoppers’ lead to 12-6 at the 16:05 mark.

The Panthers responded with a 22-6 run to take a 28-18 advantage with 8:28 left in the half. WKU’s points during that stretch came from a Jack Edelen three, an Armelo Boone layup and a Leeroy Odiahi free throw.

Grant Newell took over late in the half, scoring the final 15 points for the Hilltoppers. He cut the deficit to five with 6:09 remaining after six free throws, a dunk and a layup, but FIU closed with a 12-5 spurt to take a 45-33 lead into halftime. Newell added a fadeaway jumper and a 3-pointer during the stretch.

FIU carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a 10-3 run to push its lead to 57-36 by the first media timeout. WKU’s only points during that span came from three free throws by Terrion Murdix and Boone. The Hilltoppers answered with a quick 6-0 run to cut the margin to 15, but the Panthers responded immediately with five straight points to make it 63-44 at the 12:24 mark.

Ryan Myers provided a late spark, scoring 12 of WKU’s final 23 points with two treys, a pair of midrange jumpers and a layup, but FIU maintained control down the stretch to secure a 92-67 victory.

Three Hilltoppers scored in double figures. Newell led the way with 17 points, followed by Ryan Myers with 15 and Armelo Boone with 13.

Newell tallied 15 of his 17 points in the first half, finishing 4-of-10 from the field and 8-of-11 at the free throw line. He added two rebounds and a steal in 29 minutes.

Coming off the bench, Myers contributed 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, while also adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal in 23 minutes.

Boone provided 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting and 5-of-8 from the line, along with eight rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

WKU held statistical advantages in points off turnovers (14-11), fast-break points (12-10), bench points (38-26) and steals (9-8).

Announced attendance at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center was 804.

TOPS EARN NO. 3 SEED IN CUSA TOURNAMENT

WKU is set to face Kennesaw State in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championship on Thursday. Tipoff at Propst Arena is set for 8 p.m. CT, with the game airing on ESPN+.

WKU is slated as the No. 3 seed in the tournament and will match up against No. 6-seeded Kennesaw State. The Tops lost both regular-season matchups to the Owls, falling 81-65 on Jan. 17 at E.A. Diddle Arena and losing 72-69 on Jan. 28 in Kennesaw, Georgia.