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AMERICUS, GA- Francis Marion University found itself down by one at the half on the road in a Peach Belt Conference match-up with Georgia Southwestern University, but the Patriots used the last 20 minutes of action to outscore the Hurricanes by 15 and coast to a 70-56 win, Saturday afternoon (Jan. 28).

Senior forward Liki Turner led the way for FMU (12-7, 6-4) with his seventh double-double of the year, pouring in 25 points and snagging 13 rebounds.  The Richmond, Va., native scored 19 of his points in the opening half.  Sophomore guard Evrik Gary chipped in 17 points of his own, 14 of which came in the second stanza.  He was 3-of-6 from beyond the three-point arc over the final 20 minutes.

Francis Marion will carry its three-game win streak as it travels to Columbus State University on Sunday to take on the Cougars in a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.  The Patriots are now tied for third place in the PBC's East Division standings.

The Hurricanes (11-6, 2-6) pulled to within four points at 59-55 with 5:58 left in the contest, but from that point on they only scored one point – on a free throw with 26 seconds left.  Meanwhile, Francis Marion scored 11 straight points to lead 70-55 as Gary contributed six points. GSW missed its last seven field goal attempts.

FMU was hot from all over the floor in the second half, shooting 50 percent (12-of-24) from the field and 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from beyond the arc.  The Patriots held the advantage in most team categories highlighted by rebounds (39-34) and bench points (14-5).  Senior forward Marcel Williams led the FMU reserves with seven points, nine rebounds, and three assists.

Georgia Southwestern had three players score in double-figures, led by Colin Slotter with 17, but struggled as a whole from long-range, shooting at 16.7 percent (4-of-24).

The first half was tightly contested, but FMU did not take its first lead until a late 7-0 run put the Patriots up 31-26.  However, GSW's Evan Mobley drained consecutive three-pointers to give the Hurricanes a 32-31 halftime advantage.

The game featured nine ties and nine lead changes. A jumper by guard Derek Hosey with 9:36 left gave FMU the lead for good at 53-51.

1-28-12 3:30 PM at Americus, Ga (Storm Dome)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVE 70, GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN 56

FRANCIS MARION UNIVE (12-7, 6-4 PBC)
Liki Turner 10-18 4-4 25; Evrik Gary 5-14 3-4 17; Marcus Wright 3-7 1-4 9;
Marcel Williams 3-4 1-2 7; Darryn Frazier 1-2 2-2 5; Andrew Smith 1-6 1-2 3;
Zamarius McLendon 1-6 0-0 2; Derek Hosey 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-58 12-18 70.
GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN (11-6, 2-6 PBC)
Colin Slotter 7-18 3-4 17; Evan Mobley 5-13 2-2 16; Milos Kleut 4-5 3-5 11;
Marlon Rivera 2-9 0-1 4; Bobby Glover 1-5 1-2 3; Matt Shaw 0-0 3-4 3; Jamon
Hawkins 1-2 0-0 2; Ian Andre 0-0 0-0 0; Will Kenimer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-52
12-18 56.
Halftime: Georgia Southwestern 32 Francis Marion 31
3-point goals--Francis Marion Unive 8-20 (Evrik Gary 4-8; Marcus Wright 2-4;
Liki Turner 1-4; Darryn Frazier 1-2; Zamarius McLendon 0-2), Georgia
Southwestern 4-24 (Evan Mobley 4-12; Marlon Rivera 0-3; Bobby Glover 0-1;
Jamon Hawkins 0-1; Colin Slotter 0-7). Fouled out--Francis Marion
Unive-Zamarius McLendon, Georgia Southwestern-Milos Kleut. Rebounds--Francis
Marion Unive 39 (Liki Turner 13), Georgia Southwestern 34 (Marlon Rivera
10). Assists--Francis Marion Unive 16 (Marcus Wright 5), Georgia
Southwestern 13 (Marlon Rivera 7). Total fouls--Francis Marion Unive 18,
Georgia Southwestern 19. Technical fouls--None. A-923