DAHLONEGA, GA – Senior forward Liki Turner and sophomore guard Evrik Gary combined for 16 of Francis Marion University's 18 points in overtime as the Patriots held off North Georgia College & State University for a 98-94 road win, Monday night (Jan. 16) in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.

The Patriots were 0-2 in high-scoring overtime games earlier this season, but this time held on for the victory to improve to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in the PBC. FMU will play host to Georgia College on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.

Turner scored 28 points, including eight in the extra session, and grabbed 17 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the year.  The 6-7 Richmond, Va., native also eclipsed the 1,500-point mark for his career with a free throw in the final minute of overtime.  Gary also scored eight points in overtime and finished with 26 points and six rebounds.

FMU junior forward Zamarius McLendon registered his fourth double-double as he tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds, while senior point guard Marcus Wright scored 11 points and handed out seven assists.  Junior guard Darryn Frazier added nine points off the bench, including the clinching free throw with 8.2 seconds left.

Clarence Tillman paced North Georgia (7-9, 2-3) with 33 points, including a three-pointer from the left corner with eight seconds left in regulation that forced the overtime period.  Scott Windom added 23 points.  Both players hauled down eight rebounds.

The Patriots never trailed in overtime, but a Turner three-pointer snapped an 87-87 deadlock and FMU led the remainder of the contest.  Francis Marion was 8-of-10 at the foul line during the final 49 seconds of overtime.

Francis Marion used a 21-4 run in the opening half to take a 35-20 advantage.  North Georgia responded with a 12-2 spurt that trimmed the margin to 37-32.  Gary then connected on a jumper and freshman guard Clayton Williams nailed a three-pointer to extend the Patriot lead to 42-32 at intermission.

North Georgia quickly cut the deficit to a single bucket early in the second stanza.  FMU would extend its lead back to as many as seven, but the Saints rallied and took their only lead of the second half at 60-58 on a dunk by Elijah Smith 9:36 left. 

Turner then scored four of FMU's next five points as the Patriots went back on top 63-60.  A Gary three-pointer pushed the Francis Marion advantage to nine points at 77-68, but again the Saints rallied and forced overtime on Tillman's triple.  FMU did have a chance to win the game in regulation, but Marcel Williams' three-pointer was no good at the buzzer.

Francis Marion shot 50 percent from the field, including 11-of-27 from beyond the three-point arc.  The Patriots were 21-of-31 at the charity stripe.

North Georgia connected on 41.7 percent of its shots, including 12-of-30 from long range.  The Saints were 12-of-15 at the foul line and stayed in the game by committed only seven turnovers.

1-16-12 7:30 PM at Dahlonega, GA
FRANCIS MARION 98, NORTH GEORGIA 94

FRANCIS MARION (9-6, 5-3 PBC)
Liki Turner 9-17 8-11 28; Evrik Gary 8-18 6-8 26; Zamarius McLendon 6-10 2-3
15; Marcus Wright 5-10 0-1 11; Darryn Frazier 2-5 3-4 9; Andrew Smith 2-3
1-2 5; Clayton Williams 1-1 0-0 3; Marcel Williams 0-2 1-2 1; Derek Hosey
0-0 0-0 0; Mi'Kyel Nero 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-66 21-31 98.
NORTH GEORGIA (7-9, 2-3 PBC)
Clarence Tillman 12-23 3-4 33; Scott Windom 8-21 4-5 23; Travis Core 5-9 3-4
14; Elijah Smith 5-11 0-0 10; Robby Goldsmith 2-6 2-2 7; Pat Moynihan 2-9
0-0 5; Victor Holder 1-2 0-0 2; Taylor Metzger 0-2 0-0 0; Michael
Varrichione 0-1 0-0 0; Chaun Tinney 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-84 12-15 94.
Halftime: Francis Marion 42  North Georgia 32. Regulation 80-80.
3-point goals--Francis Marion 11-27 (Evrik Gary 4-9; Liki Turner 2-6; Darryn
Frazier 2-5; Zamarius McLendon 1-1; Marcus Wright 1-4; Clayton Williams 1-1;
Marcel Williams 0-1), North Georgia 12-30 (Clarence Tillman 6-10; Scott
Windom 3-7; Robby Goldsmith 1-2; Pat Moynihan 1-5; Travis Core 1-4; Taylor
Metzger 0-2). Fouled out--Francis Marion-None, North Georgia-Robby
Goldsmith. Rebounds--Francis Marion 49 (Liki Turner 17), North Georgia 42
(Scott Windom 8; Clarence Tillman 8; Elijah Smith 8). Assists--Francis
Marion 14 (Marcus Wright 7), North Georgia 22 (Chaun Tinney 7). Total
fouls--Francis Marion 17, North Georgia 25. Technical fouls--None. A-897