Phil Taylor scored 20 points and DeJuan Wright 18 to lead Florida International to a 65-62 victory over South Alabama in a Sun Belt Conference game Thursday night.
After Wright gave the Golden Panthers (5-13, 2-4) a 60-58 lead with 1:59 remaining, Augustine Rubit scored twice on layups to put the Jaguars (10-7, 2-4) ahead 62-60. Both layups came after Brandon Moore had blocked South Alabama shots.
Wright's three-point play with 59 seconds left returned the lead to FIU, and after a steal by Dominique Ferguson, Taylor's two free throws with 3 seconds to play provided the final margin.
FIU, which had lost seven of its previous eight games, shot 54.3 percent (25 of 46), including 63.6 percent (7 of 11) from 3-point range. Taylor was 4 of 5 behind the arc.
Michael Ammons had 15 points to lead South Alabama scorers, and Rubit had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
