BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Phil Taylor scored five of his 14 points in overtime Monday night and Florida International beat George Mason 79-76 in the first round of the preseason NIT.
The Panthers (1-0) will play Virginia Tech on Tuesday night for a chance to advance to Madison Square Garden. The Patriots (1-1) will face Monmouth, which lost 91-46 to the Hokies in the early game.
DeJuan Wright led the Panthers with 23 points, including the basket that forced overtime with 19 seconds left in regulation, but he was fouled on the play and missed the free throw. Jeremy Allen added 20 for FIU, including a 3-pointer in overtime.
Ryan Pearson led George Mason with 18 points and Vertrail Vaughns and Sherrod Wright each had 16.
The Patriots erased a 53-45 in the second half and led 66-64 until Wright's basket re-tied it.
