FLORENCE, SC – Junior guard Evrik Gary scored 22 points to lead seven players in double figures as Francis Marion University cruised to a record-setting 150-76 non-conference win over Barber-Scotia College, Tuesday evening (Nov. 27) in men's basketball action.

The scheduled Riot at the Rim doubleheader turned into a single game when the Barber-Scotia women's team did not show up for their 5:30 p.m. contest with FMU, much to the dismay of the crowd of 1,215 in the Smith University Center.

The Patriot men improve to 3-1 and will now take a break for exams.  FMU will return to action on Dec. 12 with a road game at Chowan University.

In the victory over the Sabers (1-7), Francis Marion set school records for points scored, points in a half (77), field goals made and attempts (55 of 119), three-pointers made and attempted (21 of 54), steals (32), forced turnovers (56), and margin of victory (74), while tying the school record for assists (34).

With his team-high point total, Gary surpassed 800 points for his career.  He also hauled down a team-high nine rebounds and handed out five assists in only 20 minutes of action. Freshman Cameron Lee came off the Patriot bench to tally a career-high 19 points, followed by sophomore Dustin Jones with 17, freshman Storm Clonch 15, junior Markcus Falley 13, and juniors Nequan Melvin and Chris Rhodes with 12 apiece.

Both Rhodes and sophomore Clayton Williams each recorded eight assists.  Senior Mi'Kyel Nero registered seven steals and came within one of the school record in that category.

Freshman guard Jabraile Newkirk led Barber-Scotia with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while freshman LaKeith Scott scored 16 points.

FMU, which registered 63 points off the 56 Saber turnovers, took the lead for good at 4-2 on a jumper by Rhodes.  The Patriot led by only 15-12 but used a 17-2 spurt over five minutes to open an 18-point advantage.  Francis Marion finished the final six minutes of the half with a 35-8 run to grab a commanding 77-31 lead at halftime.

The Sabers never got any closer during the final 20 minutes of the contest.

The Patriots connected on 46.2 percent of their field goal attempts, including 38.9 percent from beyond the arc.  Barber-Scotia shot 47.1 percent from the floor, but was only 27 of 49 from the foul line.

In addition to the school marks, FMU also set conference records for points scored and steals.

11/27/12 7:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIV. 150, BARBER-SCOTIA COLLEGE 76

BARBER-SCOTIA COLLEGE (1-7)
Jabraile Newkirk 8-13 10-15 26; Lakeith Scott 5-9 5-11 16; Paul Wilson 3-4
3-4 9; Damian McLendon 2-4 3-4 7; Domonic Roberts 2-7 2-4 6; Thomas Scott
2-3 0-0 4; James Parsons 1-4 1-2 3; Lee Sweeney 1-4 0-0 2; Raynard Martin
0-0 2-6 2; Jvonnie Sweeney 0-2 1-3 1; Odarius Hinton 0-0 0-0 0; Donnell
Holder 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-51 27-49 76.
FRANCIS MARION UNIV. (3-1)
Evrik Gary 7-11 5-6 22; Cameron Lee 7-9 0-1 19; Dustin Jones 7-12 1-2 17;
Storm Clonch 5-13 4-6 15; Markcus Falley 5-12 0-0 13; Nequan Melvin 5-9 2-3
12; Chris Rhodes 5-8 1-2 12; Sam Caron 3-10 0-0 9; Mi'Kyel Nero 4-10 1-2 9;
Tyler Deihl 3-9 1-2 9; Alex Tucker 2-6 2-2 6; Clayton Williams 1-7 2-2 5; AJ
Caldwell 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 55-119 19-28 150.
Halftime: Francis Marion 77 Barber-Scotia 31
3-point goals--Barber-Scotia College 1-6 (Lakeith Scott 1-3; Domonic Roberts
0-1; James Parsons 0-1; Jabraile Newkirk 0-1), Francis Marion Univ. 21-54
(Cameron Lee 5-6; Evrik Gary 3-5; Sam Caron 3-7; Markcus Falley 3-9; Dustin
Jones 2-7; Tyler Deihl 2-7; Clayton Williams 1-5; Storm Clonch 1-3; Chris
Rhodes 1-1; AJ Caldwell 0-1; Alex Tucker 0-2; Mi'Kyel Nero 0-1). Fouled
out--Barber-Scotia College-Lee Sweeney, Francis Marion Univ.-None.
Rebounds--Barber-Scotia College 49 (Jabraile Newkirk 12), Francis Marion
Univ. 55 (Evrik Gary 9). Assists--Barber-Scotia College 13 (Thomas Scott 5),
Francis Marion Univ. 34 (Chris Rhodes 8; Clayton Williams 8). Total
fouls--Barber-Scotia College 28, Francis Marion Univ. 34. Technical
fouls--Chris Rhodes. A-1215