Jeremy Allen scored 22 points and Phil Taylor had 20 as Florida International pulled away in the second half to defeat Western Kentucky 81-63 Saturday.
Taylor scored eight points and Allen five during a 15-4 run early in the second half that gave the Golden Panthers (4-10, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) a 44-33 lead with 14:12 remaining.
The Hilltoppers (5-10, 1-1) got within five, 51-46, on George Fant's layup with 6:50 left, but Dominique Ferguson answered with a three-point play and FIU put the game away by making 21 of 22 free throws in the final 4:15.
Ferguson finished with 15 points for FIU, which shot 56.5 percent (13 of 23) in the second half. Western Kentucky shot 40.6 percent (13 of 32) after making just 26.1 percent (6 of 23) in the first.
Western Kentucky committed 17 turnovers, four on steals by Allen, to FIU's nine turnovers.
