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ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – Sophomore guard Evrik Gary scored a career-high 32 points, including a record-tying night from beyond the three-point arc, to push Francis Marion University to an 87-82 Peach Belt Conference win over Flagler College, Wednesday night (Jan. 11) in men's basketball action.

The Patriots capture their second straight PBC contest and up their overall record to 8-6 and conference mark to 4-3.  FMU will travel to North Georgia College & State University on Monday for a 7:30 p.m. PBC contest.

Gary was 5-of-5 on three-point attempts to tie the school's single-game record, previously accomplished five times.  He was also 11-of-13 at the foul line and grabbed six rebounds.

Junior forward Zamarius McLendon tied his career high with 18 points, while Liki Turner chipped in 10 points despite being saddled with foul trouble most of the night.

Forward Ante Gospic paced Flagler (6-8, 0-7) with 29 points, while guard Ryan Barnes scored 17 points before fouling out.

FMU, which never trailed in the game, took the lead for good at 6-3 on a Gary three-pointer.  The margin would grow to 21-7 and eventually 25-17 as the Patriots hit six of their first seven three-point attempts.

Two free throws by Darryn Frazier again gave FMU a 14-point margin at 45-31 and the Patriots would own a 47-33 lead at intermission.

Flagler trimmed the lead to 59-52 early in the second stanza only to see Frazier and McLendon combine on a 7-0 run to push the Patriot advantage back to double digits at 66-52.  The lead would grow to 76-60, but Flagler rallied to within 82-77 following a free throw by Matt Clark with 1:38 remaining.

Gary then scored on a layup, and following three Flagler misses, McLendon hit one of two free throws to extend the lead to 85-77 with 22 seconds left.

Francis Marion shot 48.1 percent from the field, while holding the Saints to 38.9 percent.  The Patriots also hit 29-of-36 free throw attempts.

1-11-12 7:45 p.m. at St. Augustine, Fla. (Flagler Gym)
FRANCIS MARION 87, FLAGLER 82

FRANCIS MARION (8-6, 4-3 PBC)
Evrik Gary 8-15 11-13 32; Zamarius McLendon 6-9 5-9 18; Liki Turner 2-4 6-6
10; Marcus Wright 3-8 2-2 9; Marcel Williams 2-2 3-4 7; Andrew Smith 3-8 0-0
6; Darryn Frazier 1-4 2-2 5; Clayton Williams 0-0 0-0 0; Derek Hosey 0-1 0-0
0; Maurice Grant 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-52 29-36 87.
FLAGLER (6-8, 0-7 PBC)
Ante Gospic 9-14 10-11 29; Ryan Barnes 6-15 0-0 17; Matt Clark 3-18 2-4 11;
Addison Smith 4-9 2-5 10; Jarrod Branco 2-9 2-4 7; Desmond Gibson 3-5 0-0 6;
Jordan Warner 1-1 0-3 2; Justin Stokes 0-1 0-0 0; Elijah Hayes 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 28-72 16-27 82.
Halftime: Francis Marion 47  Flagler 33
3-point goals--Francis Marion 8-14 (Evrik Gary 5-5; Darryn Frazier 1-3;
Marcus Wright 1-4; Zamarius McLendon 1-1; Liki Turner 0-1), Flagler 10-30
(Ryan Barnes 5-12; Matt Clark 3-12; Ante Gospic 1-1; Jarrod Branco 1-4;
Addison Smith 0-1). Fouled out--Francis Marion-Andrew Smith, Flagler-Ryan
Barnes. Rebounds--Francis Marion 39 (Andrew Smith 9), Flagler 42 (Ante
Gospic 10). Assists--Francis Marion 16 (Zamarius McLendon 5), Flagler 20
(Addison Smith 9). Total fouls--Francis Marion 22, Flagler 23. Technical
fouls--None. A-403