FLORENCE, SC - Senior post players Stanley Jones and Kevin Clark combined for 27 points and 26 rebounds to lead unbeaten Francis Marion University to a 68-59 win over local-rival Coker College, Saturday evening (Nov. 22) in the final game of 2008 Zaxby's Tip-Off Clazzic.

Francis Marion is a perfect 4-0 for the first time since the 2003-04 season when the Patriots advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16, and for only the seventh time in 39 seasons.  The Patriots also up their all-time series lead against Coker to 41-11.

Savannah College of Art and Design (7-1) defeated UNC Pembroke 71-65 in Saturday's first contest.

Jones at 6-9 and Clark at 6-7 helped the Patriots control the boards with a 42-25 rebounding advantage.  Jones scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Clark tallied 11 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots.  Junior guard Kendrick Robinson came off the FMU bench and for the second straight night scored in double figures with 14, while senior forward Sam Smith added 13 points.

Junior 6-6 center Mason Ambler lead Coker (3-1) with 26 points and nine rebounds.  Senior guard Lukas Varga added 11 points.

The first half featured five lead changes.  A tip-in by Smith at the first half horn gave Francis Marion a 36-30 advantage at intermission.

Francis Marion never trailed in the second stanza, but the Patriots' largest lead was only 12, the first time at 57-45 with 6:39 remaining.  An 8-1 spurt allowed Coker to trim the margin to 58-53 following a pair of free throws by Vatrick Thompson with 3:53 left.

A pair of charity tosses by Robinson and jumpers by Simel Boyd and Smith fueled a 6-1 spurt that put the Patriots up 64-54 with only two minutes left.

Francis Marion shot 52.6 percent after halftime, while holding the Cobras to 32.3 percent.

FMU plays host to Allen University on Saturday (Nov. 29) at 4 p.m.

11-22-08 6:39 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 68, COKER COLLEGE 59

COKER COLLEGE (3-1)
Mason Ambler 10-21 6-7 26; Lukas Varga 4-9 0-0 11; Vatrick Thompson 1-6 4-6
6; Josh Posten 2-11 1-2 6; Michael Gore 2-5 0-0 4; J.C. Hafner 1-3 0-0 2;
Joselle Bracy 1-1 0-0 2; Liam Kyle 1-1 0-0 2; Brandon Sanders 0-0 0-0 0;
Stevie Evans 0-2 0-0 0; Ricardo Smith 0-0 0-0 0; Blake Terrell 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 22-59 11-15 59.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (4-0)
Jones, Stanley 8-14 0-2 16; Robinson, Kendrick 3-8 6-6 14; Smith, Sam 4-7
5-6 13; Clark, Kevin 4-9 0-0 11; Boyd, Simel 3-3 0-0 6; Jones, Crayton 1-3
1-3 3; Bjornsson, Brynjar 1-3 0-0 3; Power, Houston 1-1 0-0 2; French, Matt
0-2 0-0 0; Turner, David 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-51 12-17 68.
Halftime: Francis Marion 36 Coker 30
3-point goals--Coker College 4-18 (Lukas Varga 3-7; Josh Posten 1-5; J.C.
Hafner 0-2; Vatrick Thompson 0-4), Francis Marion University 6-15 (Clark,
Kevin 3-6; Robinson, Kendrick 2-3; Bjornsson, Brynjar 1-3; French, Matt 0-2;
Turner, David 0-1). Fouled out--Coker College-None, Francis Marion
University-None. Rebounds--Coker College 25 (Mason Ambler 9), Francis Marion
University 42 (Clark, Kevin 16). Assists--Coker College 11 (Josh Posten 4),
Francis Marion University 17 (Jones, Crayton 4; Clark, Kevin 4). Total
fouls--Coker College 18, Francis Marion University 14. Technical
fouls--Coker College-None, Francis Marion University-Power, Houston. A-696
Zaxby's Tip-Off Clazzic in Florence, SC