KC and the Patriot band outlast Braves 65-52

By Michael G. Hawkins

FLORENCE, SC – Senior 6-7 center Kevin Clark scored 15 points and junior 6-7 forward Matt French added 12 points as Francis Marion University outlasted UNC Pembroke to claim a 65-52 Peach Belt Conference win, Wednesday night (Jan.14) in men’s basketball action.

Francis Marion (10-2, 3-2) reaches double-digit wins in the shortest span (12 games) since the 2003-04 squad opened 10-0 en route to reaching the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. The victory was the fifth straight for FMU over the Braves, and the eighth in the last nine meetings.

Clark and French combined to hit on 9-of-13 shots. Freshman swingman Brynjar Bjornsson and junior guard Kendrick Robinson each chipped in eight points, while senior guard Houston Power tallied seven points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while committing no turnovers in 31 minutes.

Senior guard Cortez Brown led UNCP (3-10, 0-6) with 14 points before fouling out, while 6-6 freshman Nate Priest came off the Braves’ bench to score 13 points and grab six rebounds.

A three-pointer by Bjornsson gave FMU an early 13-6 lead. However, Francis Marion would score only four points over the next eight minutes allowing UNCP to tie the contest at 17-17 on a layup by Brown with 7:06 left in the first half. Clark then sparked a 10-0 Patriot spurt that helped FMU gain a 28-23 halftime lead.

The game remained close in the second stanza. UNCP took its only lead of the game at 44-43 on a three-pointer by Brown with 8:05 left on the clock. Francis Marion regained the lead on a jumper by Power just 1:25 later. Two free throws by Brown with 4:50 on the clock brought UNCP to within 49-48.

A three-pointer by Bjornsson started a decisive 8-1 FMU run that put the Patriots up 57-49 with 1:53 left.

Both teams shot 21-of-50 from the field, but the Patriots made five more three-pointers and were 15-of-18 at the foul line compared to the Braves’ 7-of-14.

Francis Marion will play host to Georgia College & State University on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will be telecast on channel 11 of Florence’s Time Warner Cable system and broadcast WWFN-FM The Fan 100.1 radio station.