COLUMBUS, GA - Junior guard Anthony Wallen scored a career-high 17 points and senior guard Crayton Jones drained six free throws in the final 1:16 as Francis Marion University claimed an 84-78 come-from-behind win over Columbus State University, Saturday afternoon (Jan.10) in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.

Francis Marion (9-2) snaps a two-game losing skid and evens its Peach Belt mark at 2-2.

After three consecutive PBC road contests and nearly a month between home contests, FMU will play host to UNC Pembroke on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.  During the doubleheader, a drawing will be held so one fan can shoot a half-court shot to win $10,000. This event will introduce the Carolina Automotive Cup competition between FMU and UNCP that will begin in the fall.

Wallen came off the Patriot bench to hit 4-of-8 three-point attempts en route to his career-high total.  Senior 6-7 forward Kevin Clark tallied 16 points and eight rebounds, while junior 6-7 forward Matt French added 10 points and Jones 10.

Forward Chris Telesford led Columbus State (4-6, 2-2) with 16 points as five Cougars reached double figures.

FMU used a 12-0 run in the opening half to open a 15-point lead at 26-11. The spurt was keyed by a trio of three-pointers by Wallen on consecutive possessions.  CSU answered with a 17-0 run to grab a 28-26 advantage, and the Cougars led 43-40 at halftime.

A three-pointer by French early in the second stanza gave FMU the lead for good at 49-47.   The Patriots would gradually build an 11-point margin at 67-56 following two free throws by Jones with 6:45 left.  His charity tosses in the final minutes helped hold off a Cougar rally.

For the game, Francis Marion hit 23 of 33 free throws, while CSU managed only 8 of 18 at the stripe.

01/10/09 4:00 PM at Columbus, GA...Lumpkin Center
FRANCIS MARION 84, COLUMBUS STATE 78

FRANCIS MARION (9-2, 2-2 PBC)
Wallen, Anthony 6-11 1-1 17; Clark, Kevin 6-12 4-4 16; Jones, Crayton 1-2
8-10 10; French, Matt 3-7 2-2 10; Robinson, Kendrick 2-6 4-10 8; Bjornsson,
Brynjar 2-7 2-2 8; Smith, Sam 2-3 1-2 5; Jones, Stanley 2-3 1-2 5; Power,
Houston 1-5 0-0 3; Boyd, Simel 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-58 23-33 84.
COLUMBUS STATE (4-6, 2-2 PBC)
Telesford, Chris 6-9 2-4 16; Brow, Owen 5-12 3-6 13; Stewart, Javarus 5-8
0-0 13; Miller, Sean 4-7 1-2 11; Gagnon, Nick 4-7 2-4 10; Wright, Carlos
4-11 0-2 9; Zinder, Rye 2-2 0-0 4; Bland, Brandon 1-2 0-0 2; Agbasi, Ify 0-1
0-0 0; Holloway, Tray 0-2 0-0 0; Keith, Keonte 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 31-65 8-18
78.
Halftime: Columbus State 43  Francis Marion 40
3-point goals--Francis Marion 9-25 (Wallen, Anthony 4-8; French, Matt 2-3;
Bjornsson, Brynjar 2-6; Power, Houston 1-4; Robinson, Kendrick 0-2; Clark,
Kevin 0-2), Columbus State 8-21 (Stewart, Javarus 3-4; Miller, Sean 2-4;
Telesford, Chris 2-4; Wright, Carlos 1-4; Agbasi, Ify 0-1; Holloway, Tray
0-2; Keith, Keonte 0-1; Brow, Owen 0-1). Fouled out--Francis Marion-None,
Columbus State-Stewart, Javarus. Rebounds--Francis Marion 41 (Clark, Kevin
8), Columbus State 33 (Gagnon, Nick 8). Assists--Francis Marion 18
(Robinson, Kendrick 6), Columbus State 11 (Stewart, Javarus 3). Total
fouls--Francis Marion 19, Columbus State 24. Technical fouls--Francis
Marion-None, Columbus State-None. A-501