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LA Tech Ends FIU Win Streak with 44-24 Victory

Louisiana Tech scored 20 unanswered points in the first half en route to a 44-24 win over FIU Saturday night at FIU Stadium. The loss snapped the Panthers' (3-5, 3-1 Conference USA) three-game winning streak. The Bulldogs improved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in C-USA. After a 3-3 start to the game, LA Tech jumped out to a 10-3 lead on a six-yard run by quarterback Ryan Higgins with 2:36 left in the first. A 49-yard completion from Higgins to Trent Taylor set up the Bulldogs inside the FIU 10, leading to the Higgins' score.

LA Tech extended its lead to 17-3 with a four-yard touchdown run by Kam McKnight with 13:19 left in the first half. The Bulldogs added three more points later in the second quarter following a 31-yard field goal Jonathan Barnes. FIU ended the LA Tech 20-point run with a touchdown with 52 seconds left in the second quarter as quarterback Alex McGough found tight end Jonnu Smith for 17 yards. The score cut the LA Tech lead to 20-10. The school-record setting touchdown pass by McGough was the Tampa native's eighth of the season and 43rd of his career.

McGough broke the record held by former FIU quarterback Josh Padrick. The Bulldogs answered with a touchdown of their own going 67 yards on six plays in 40 seconds capped off by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Higgins to Carlos Henderson as the Panthers entered halftime down 27-10. The Panthers came out of halftime and scored on their first possession of the second half as McGough completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Owens to pull within 10, 27-17. The touchdown, with 9:16 left in the third, was the fourth of the season for Owens. The touchdown capped off an eight-play, 99-yard drive that lasted 3:34. Near the end of the third quarter, LA Tech safety Xavier Woods intercepted a pass by McGough to set LA Tech up at the FIU 1.

Two plays later the Bulldogs scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Higgins to Kam McKnight. The score gave LA Tech a 34-17 lead with 3:14 left in the third. The Bulldogs tacked on three points with Barnes' third field goal of the game (a 23-yarder) with 10:36 left in the game, 37-17.

The Panthers will next host the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. Kickoff from Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.

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