Thomas' players quietly protest his firing at FIU

MIAMI (AP) -- Isiah Thomas' firing at Florida International sparked a protest by his former players Monday night.

Team members who attended a university athletic department banquet quietly walked out of the event moments before the season's award winners were to be introduced. The event continued as planned.

DeJuan Wright, who led FIU in scoring this past season, posted a video of the protest on YouTube and said it was done not just over Thomas' firing, but for the dismissal of members of Thomas' staff as well. Wright called them "mentors."

FIU has not commented publicly about Thomas' firing since it was announced in a short statement Friday. The Basketball Hall of Fame player was 26-65 in his three seasons with the Panthers.

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