(photo by Aaron Gotter)

FLORENCE, SC – Forwards Liki Turner and Zamarius McLendon each posted double-doubles and Francis Marion University withstood a trio of potential game-tying attempts by Morris College in the final seconds to capture a 90-87 non-conference win, Friday night (Nov. 18) in the Zaxby's Tip-Off Clazzic.

Francis Marion improves to 2-1 and will face Chowan University in Saturday's nightcap at 8 p.m.  Chowan beat Coker College 80-64 in Friday's opening contest.  Coker and Morris will battle in Saturday's first game at 6 p.m.

Turner registered 21 points and 11 rebounds, while McLendon recorded his second double-double of the young season with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Sophomore guard Evrik Gary tallied 15 points, while junior point guard Mi'Kyel Nero chipped in 10 points.

It was Nero's layup with 39 ticks remaining that gave FMU a 90-87 advantage.  Morris then missed three three-point attempts in the 32 seconds, the last at the final horn, which would have tied the score.

The game featured 21 lead changes and 12 ties.

Morris started out quickly, taking a quick 7-0 lead, but the Patriots rallied and took their first lead at 21-20 on a jumper by Derek Hosey.  FMU held a slim 44-43 lead at intermission.

The largest margin in the final stanza was a six-point FMU lead at 88-82 on two Hosey charity tosses with 1:43 left.  The Hornets answered with a three-pointer by Canty and a layup by Avery Chisolm to cut the deficit to 88-87 with 1:14 remaining, and setting the stage for Nero's bucket.

Despite being outshot from the field, Francis Marion converted 36 of 44 free throws (81.8%) and outrebounded the smaller Hornets 45-31.

Guard Landerius Fuller paced Morris (0-5) with 20 points, while swingman Andreaus Canty added 19 points.

11-18-11 8:30 p.m. at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 90, MORRIS COLLEGE 87

Zaxby's Tip-Off Classic at FMU in Florence, SC

MORRIS COLLEGE (0-5)
FULLER,Landerius 6-13 4-7 20; CANTY,Andreaus 6-18 3-4 19; JOHNSON,Avery 4-8
1-3 11; WILLIAMS,Derrick 4-6 2-2 10; AKIEME,Justin 3-7 2-2 8;
PARHAM,Jonathan 3-3 0-0 6; NELSON,John Maurice 2-3 1-2 5; CHISOLM,Clinton
0-1 4-6 4; BADIE,Demequez 1-4 0-0 2; COARD,Adrian 1-1 0-0 2;
HILLIARD,Raymond 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 17-26 87.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (2-1)
Liki Turner 4-10 13-16 21; Zamarius McLendon 6-7 6-10 18; Evrik Gary 4-14
6-6 15; Mi'Kyel Nero 4-5 2-2 10; Marcus Wright 2-4 2-2 6; Marcel Williams
1-1 2-2 4; Andrew Smith 1-3 2-2 4; Derek Hosey 1-2 2-2 4; Darryn Frazier 1-8
1-2 4; Lorenzo Williams 1-1 0-0 2; Maurice Grant 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 26-59
36-44 90.
Halftime: Francis Marion 44 Morris 43
3-point goals--Morris College 10-31 (CANTY,Andreaus 4-11; FULLER,Landerius
4-10; JOHNSON,Avery 2-6; CHISOLM,Clinton 0-1; BADIE,Demequez 0-1;
HILLIARD,Raymond 0-2), Francis Marion University 2-15 (Evrik Gary 1-6;
Darryn Frazier 1-5; Marcus Wright 0-1; Maurice Grant 0-1; Liki Turner 0-2).
Fouled out--Morris College-AKIEME,Justin, Francis Marion University-None.
Rebounds--Morris College 31 (CANTY,Andreaus 5), Francis Marion University 45
(Liki Turner 11). Assists--Morris College 20 (CHISOLM,Clinton 8), Francis
Marion University 12 (Evrik Gary 4). Total fouls--Morris College 27, Francis
Marion University 20. Technical fouls--None. A-857