FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University junior center Dii'Jon Allen-Jordan registered his sixth double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds, but the Patriots could not overcome their worst shooting night in four seasons as Lander University pulled away for a 67-49 Peach Belt Conference victory, Wednesday night (Jan. 28) in men's basketball action.

Francis Marion (9-11, 1-10), which had suffered an unbelievable number of close losses in conference play (9 by a combined 40 points), trailed by double digits for the final 13:49 of Wednesday's contest.

The Patriots will travel to Milledgeville, Ga., on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. match-up against Georgia College.

WATCH THE GAME REPLAY

FMU connected on only 16-of-58 field goal attempts for 27.6 percent, including 3-of-21 from three-point range.

Following Allen-Jordan were freshmen Detrek Browning and A.J. Jackson with 10 points apiece.  Browning added five rebounds, five assists and five steals from his point guard position.

A trio of Lander players – Kiair Crouch, Tobiasz Hose, and JR Washington – each scored 15 points.  Washington hauled down 10 rebounds as the Bearcats improved to 15-4 and 7-4.

FMU hits on only three of its first 17 shots and trailed 16-7 just past the midway point of the first half.  Six straight points by the Patriots closed the gap to 16-13, but Lander responded with a 7-0 run to push the advantage back to double figures.  Lander led 30-20 at halftime.

A free throw by Francis Marion junior David Jerome brought the Patriots to within six points, 38-32, with 14:44 remaining.  Again Lander answered the Patriot rally, this time with a 10-0 spurt that extended the margin to 16 points at 48-32 with 12:59 left.

The Patriots would close to within 13 points at 56-43, but FMU missed on a fast-break layup and a chance to draw within 11 with 5:47 left.  Six-of-six free throw shooting by Lander over the final 1:29 sealed the decision.

FMU held Lander to 39.6 percent shooting from the floor.

1-28-15 7:50 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
LANDER UNIVERSITY 67, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 49
LANDER UNIVERSITY (15-4 , 7-4 PBC)
Kiair Crouch 5-12 3-3 15; JR Washington 4-14 6-7 15; Tobiasz Hose 4-13 7-8
15; Scott Elder 4-5 0-0 9; Ricardo Martin 2-4 2-3 6; Mike Lee 1-2 2-2 5;
Sergio Smith 1-1 0-0 2; Asger Hjorth 0-2 0-0 0; Randy Colter 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 21-53 20-23 67.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (9-11 ,1-10 PBC)
Dii'Jon Allen-Jordan 4-13 5-7 13; A.J. Jackson 3-4 2-3 10; Detrek Browning
5-13 0-0 10; Mike Davis Jr. 2-10 1-2 5; Dustin Jones 2-10 0-0 5; David
Jerome 0-5 2-7 2; Alex Bryant 0-0 2-2 2; David Brown 0-0 2-2 2; Luka
Zivkovic 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 16-58 14-23 49.
Halftime: Lander 30  Francis Marion  20
3-point goals--Lander University 5-15 (Kiair Crouch 2-5; Scott Elder 1-1;
Mike Lee 1-1; JR Washington 1-6; Tobiasz Hose 0-2), Francis Marion
University 3-21 (A.J. Jackson 2-3; Dustin Jones 1-9; Mike Davis Jr. 0-4;
Luka Zivkovic 0-1; Detrek Browning 0-4). Fouled out--Lander University-None,
Francis Marion University-None. Rebounds--Lander University 45 (JR
Washington 10), Francis Marion University 37 (Dii'Jon Allen-Jordan 10).
Assists--Lander University 13 (JR Washington 4), Francis Marion University
10 (Detrek Browning 5). Total fouls--Lander University 19, Francis Marion
University 21. Technical fouls--Lander University-None, Francis Marion
University-None. A-1259