MIAMI -- Donte McGill had 23 of his career-high 29 points in the first half and Florida International held its lead in the second to beat Louisiana Tech 88-74 on Thursday night.
FIU (9-8, 3-1 Conference USA) led 52-41 when McGill closed the first half with his third 3-pointer. The Panthers led by no less than nine in the second half.
McGill scored 12 straight FIU points as the Panthers jumped to a 17-11 lead. Louisiana Tech (13-4, 2-2) closed to within 27-24 on Leantwan Luckett's jumper and stayed close until FIU capped the half with an 8-2 run.