BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- No T.Y. Hilton, no problem for FIU.

Hilton, the team's top playmaker, went down early in Saturday's game with a knee injury on the opening kickoff.

For the majority of this young season, the Golden Panthers have relied on Hilton, but FIU found other playmakers in its 37-20 win over Western Kentucky on a cold Saturday night where temperatures dipped into the 40s at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.

Hilton sustained a knee strain when a couple of Hilltoppers defenders hit his right knee on the first play of the game.

The sophomore rode the stationary bike on the sideline and was fitted for a knee brace. Hilton reentered the game and caught a 31-yard pass from Paul McCall, but after that first-quarter play, he sat out the rest of the game.

``I got hit on the knee pretty good, but it's feeling all right now,'' Hilton said. ``I'm walking fine, and I will be all right.''

Hilton will have an MRI Sunday in Miami.

With a tough running game and a solid game from McCall, the Panthers (1-4, 1-1 Sun Belt) made sure the Hilltoppers' first game as a member of the Sun Belt Conference would not be a memorable one.

FIU rolled up 486 yards of offense (206 rushing yards) and took a commanding lead early in the fourth quarter to secure its first win of the season.

``The most important thing that we did tonight that we haven't done consistently is that we responded to adversity,'' FIU coach Mario Cristobal said.

``Whenever they came and scored a touchdown, we found a way to go and get some more points on the board. I think we grew up some in that way.''

FIU got going on the ground with the combination of Darriet Perry and Daunte Owens. The running backs combined for 159 yards with Owens scoring two touchdowns.

Owens nipped Perry in yardage to lead the Panthers with 80 yards and Perry had 79.

WINNING `IN TRENCHES'

``I saw a lot of holes out there,'' Owens said. ``Our O-line did a great job. They won in the trenches and it paid off for the running backs.''

FIU never trailed, but it had to respond twice to the adversity Cristobal talked about.

After WKU (0-5, 0-1) closed the FIU lead to 10-7 with a Bobby Rainey 16-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, the Hilltoppers surprised the Panthers with an onside kick.

WKU recovered, but FIU linebacker Toronto Smith and defensive tackle Jonas Murrell combined on a sack on the ensuing drive to thwart the Hilltoppers and force a punt.

To start the second half, FIU led 17-7, but WKU gashed the Panthers' defense with big plays on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Hilltoppers quarterback Kawaun Jakes scrambled in for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 17-14.

A QUICK RESPONSE

FIU needed just four plays to respond this time.

Owens rushed for 16 yards on three plays to start the drive, and on the fourth play, McCall connected with Ty Frierson for a 40-yard touchdown pass.

``It was beautiful to see how this team stepped up tonight,'' said McCall, who was 14 of 22 for 280 yards and two touchdowns.

``It's a tribute to what those guys upfront on the O-line have been doing all year.''

With Frierson's touchdown catch, the Panthers extended the lead to 24-14.

RIVEST ON TARGET

FIU kicker Dustin Rivest, who was 1 for 3 on the season on field goals, nailed three field goals in three tries on Saturday.

Rivest connected twice in the third quarter to make it 30-14.

Then Smith and Owens erased any hopes of a Hilltoppers' comeback.

Smith intercepted Jakes at the WKU 41 and returned it to the 16.

On the next play, Owens split the Hilltoppers' defense with a 16-yard touchdown run up the middle to up the FIU advantage to 37-14.

`TIRED OF LOSING'

``Adversity is going to happen all the time,'' Smith said.

``We're just tired of losing. We made up our minds that we were going to dominate and now we have to take that same mind-set next week when Troy comes to our house.''