DAHLONEGA, GA -  Seniors Kendrick Robinson and Kaylan Anderson scored 15 points each and Francis Marion University rode a hot-shooting first half performance to claim an 81-56 road victory over North Georgia College & State University, Wednesday night in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.

Junior swingman Edward Gullatte added 13 points for Francis Marion (17-5, 9-4), which snaps a two-game losing skid and maintains it second-place standing in the PBC's East Division.  The Patriots will play host to Clayton State University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Tyler Norman with 13 points was the lone Saint to reach double figures and North Georgia drops to 12-10 and 7-5.

FMU shot 53 percent in the opening half and stormed to a 43-24 halftime lead.  After North Georgia took a 5-0 lead, FMU scored 12 straight points to lead 12-5.  The margin grew to 27-11 following a Gullatte dunk with 8:37 left in the half,  and eventually to 38-13 after a Robert Faulkner layup with 4:47 remaining before halftime.

In the second half, the Saints rallied to within 10 points at 51-41 with 12:51 left in the contest, but the Patriots regrouped and went on a 19-4 run to lead 70-45. 

The Patriots held big advantages in several categories including points off turnovers (30-18), points in the paint (40-18), and fast-break points (20-0).

2-10-10 7:30 p.m. at Dahlonega, GA
FRANCIS MARION 81, NORTH GEORGIA 56
FRANCIS MARION (17-5, 9-4 PBC)
Anderson, Kaylan 3-9 8-11 15; Robinson, Kendrick 6-11 0-0 15; Gullatte,
Edward 5-8 2-2 13; Turner, David 3-5 0-0 8; Faulkner, Robert 4-8 0-2 8;
Boyd, Simel 3-4 1-2 7; Julious, Bryant 1-4 2-2 5; Candelaria, Mike 2-4 0-0
4; Smith, Andrew 1-3 1-2 3; Peterson, Andy 1-2 0-0 2; Sinkler, Mark 0-0 1-2
1; Petreikis, Mindaugas 0-0 0-0 0; Mains, Herman 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-60
15-23 81.
NORTH GEORGIA (12-10, 7-5 PBC)
Norman, Tyler 4-8 3-4 13; Rimmer, Bernard 3-12 3-7 9; Taylor, Carl 2-9 3-4
8; Moynihan, Pat 1-2 4-4 6; Butler, Kindall 2-3 1-2 5; Bennett, Andrew 1-4
2-5 4; Nolton, Jon 2-3 0-0 4; Buck, Reed 0-3 2-2 2; Coleman, Keldrick 0-5
2-4 2; Coleman, Cody 0-0 2-2 2; Anderson, Chase 0-1 1-2 1; Goldsmith, Robby
0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-50 23-36 56.
Halftime: Francis Marion 43 North Georgia 24
3-point goals--Francis Marion 8-22 (Robinson, Kendrick 3-6; Turner, David
2-3; Anderson, Kaylan 1-5; Gullatte, Edward 1-3; Julious, Bryant 1-2;
Candelaria, Mike 0-2; Faulkner, Robert 0-1), North Georgia 3-19 (Norman,
Tyler 2-5; Taylor, Carl 1-7; Buck, Reed 0-3; Anderson, Chase 0-1; Rimmer,
Bernard 0-3). Fouled out--Francis Marion-Gullatte, Edward, North
Georgia-None. Rebounds--Francis Marion 39 (Robinson, Kendrick 6), North
Georgia 38 (Rimmer, Bernard 7). Assists--Francis Marion 16 (Candelaria, Mike
6), North Georgia 9 (Rimmer, Bernard 3). Total fouls--Francis Marion 31,
North Georgia 19. Technical fouls--None. A-398