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FLORENCE, S.C.- Francis Marion University had all five of its starters score in double figures, including two reaching career-highs, yet the Patriots were the ones on the short end of a 99-94 overtime decision at the hands of Clayton State University, Saturday evening (Jan. 7) in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.

The Patriots (6-6, 2-3) took advantage of the Lakers (9-4, 2-3) 0-for-7 start from the field and raced out to an 8-0 lead in the first five minutes.  The run was capped off by a jumper from sophomore guard Evrik Gary at the 15:53 mark.

The margin stretched to 11-2 moments later (14:59) after senior guard Marcus Wright sank a three-point bucket, before Clayton State answered with its own 19-2 run that saw FMU turn the ball over seven times in a 5:42 span.  The Patriots committed 24 turnovers on the evening.

Clayton State expanded its lead to as many as 13 points at 35-22, but the Patriots worked it back down to single digits on Gary's steal and fast-break bucket with 1:32 left to play.  The product of Camden, S.C., had 13 of his new career-high 28 points in the first half, eclipsing his old high of 27.  He also tied his career high of nine rebounds. One of the top free throw shooters in the Division II, Gary connected on 12-of-14 at the stripe to lead the Patriots' 26-of-31 effort at the foul line.

Clayton State however entered halftime with a double-digit bulge (39-29) after a jumper by junior Reco Lewis rolled home just before the intermission buzzer.

The early portions of the second-half saw the Lakers' lead fluctuate between 11 and seven points before the Patriots used a 13-0 run over the course of three minutes to grab a 76-70 advantage with 4:21 left.  Wright used a three-point play and a three-pointer to book end the run as FMU gained its first lead of the second half.  Wright had 16 points in the second stanza and matched his previous career-high of 21 points before fouling out.

The Francis Marion lead ballooned to seven (80-73) after a bucket by Wright with 2:57 remaining, before the Lakers climbed their way back into the game and knotted the score at 82-82 on senior Anthony Salter's free throw with 41 seconds left.  Clayton State had an opportunity to win in regulation, but senior Bradley Turner's jumper was no good with five seconds left.  Wright was then just short on a heave from just inside the halfcourt line as regulation expired.

The Patriot shot a sizzling 70.8 percent from the field (17-of-24) in the second half to rally from the halftime deficit.

FMU then got a big lift in overtime from junior forward Zamarius McLendon who nailed a three-pointer from the right corner to give FMU a one-point edge at 89-88 with 2:02 left to play.  It was three of McLendon's 11 points on the night, and his first triple of the year.  However, that was the last lead FMU would enjoy as the Lakers closed out the extra session on an 11-5 spurt to pull away for the win.  The Lakers hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final seven seconds to seal the outcome.

FMU senior forward Liki Turner added 20 points of his own to join Gary and Wright at the 20-point plateau.  Senior center Andrew Smith rounded out the five starters registering double-figures as he put in 12.

Leading the way for Clayton State was Salter and senior swingman Teondre Williams with 21 points each.  The Lakers held the advantage in bench scoring as they topped the Patriots 33-2 off the pine.

For the game, FMU shot 53.7 percent from the field, including 10-of-18 from beyond the three-point arc.  Clayton State shot 47.9 percent from the floor and was 22-of-26 at the stripe.

Francis Marion concludes its three-game PBC homestand on Monday (Jan. 9) when the University of Montevallo visits the Smith University Center for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

1-7-12 3:40 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
CLAYTON STATE UNIV. 99, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 94

CLAYTON STATE UNIV. (9-4 , 2-3 PBC)
Teondre Williams 5-17 10-11 21; Anthony Salter 7-17 5-7 21; Andrew Bachanov
7-11 1-2 15; Reco Lewis 5-7 0-0 13; Tony Dukes 4-5 3-3 12; Tyrone Black 2-4
2-2 6; Juron Dobbs 2-2 1-1 5; Bradley Tumer 2-3 0-0 4; Torrin Greene 1-5 0-0
2; Tim Budd 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 35-73 22-26 99.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (6-6 , 2-3 PBC)
Evrik Gary 6-13 12-14 28; Marcus Wright 7-10 3-3 21; Liki Turner 7-11 5-8
20; Andrew Smith 4-9 4-4 12; Zamarius McLendon 4-6 2-2 11; Clayton Williams
1-3 0-0 2; Marcel Williams 0-2 0-0 0; Derek Hosey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-54
26-31 94.
Halftime: Clayton State 39 Francis Marion 29. Regulation 82-82.
3-point goals--Clayton State Univ. 7-22 (Reco Lewis 3-5; Anthony Salter 2-8;
Teondre Williams 1-6; Tony Dukes 1-1; Torrin Greene 0-2), Francis Marion
University 10-18 (Marcus Wright 4-5; Evrik Gary 4-8; Liki Turner 1-3;
Zamarius McLendon 1-2). Fouled out--Clayton State Univ.-Juron Dobbs; Bradley
Tumer, Francis Marion University-Marcus Wright; Andrew Smith.
Rebounds--Clayton State Univ. 34 (Andrew Bachanov 11), Francis Marion
University 31 (Evrik Gary 9). Assists--Clayton State Univ. 17 (Anthony
Salter 6; Bradley Tumer 6), Francis Marion University 11 (Marcus Wright 4).
Total fouls--Clayton State Univ. 27, Francis Marion University 25. Technical
fouls--Clayton State Univ.-Bradley Tumer, Francis Marion University-None.
A-211