FLORENCE, SC – Junior guard Alante Fenner hit a three-pointer with nine seconds left and sophomore guard Detrek Browning came up with a steal on the ensuing possession and knocked home a 14-foot jumper with 1.5 ticks remaining to cap an incredible Francis Marion University rally that resulted in an improbable 79-77 victory over UNC Pembroke, Wednesday night (Feb. 24) in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.

The win catapults the Patriots (17-11, 9-10) into the final berth for this weekend's Peach Belt Conference Tournament.  FMU will play at Columbus State University in a quarterfinal contest on Sunday at 4 p.m.  UNCP ends its season at 15-13 and 9-10.  The Patriots earn the final berth by virtue of a better divisional record.

Browning led the Patriots with 31 points on 12-of-23 shooting.  His night also included six three-pointers as the Columbia native moved into 16th place on the Patriot career scoring list with 1,052 points.  Fenner tallied 15 points, nine of which came in the final eight minutes.  Sophomore forward Judah Alexander added nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Junior guard Alex Bradley led UNCP with 18 points and six assists, while senior forward Brandon Winford added 17 points and freshman James Murray-Boyles 15.

Browning's steal in the backcourt and resulting bucket set off a wild on-court celebration by the Senior Night crowd of 1,137.  The basket also wiped out a 15-point UNCP lead in the final 5:30.

The Braves led 72-57, but a 14-2 run by the Patriots trimmed the deficit to 74-71 after a Browning lay-in with 1:54 remaining.  A fast-break runner in the lane by Fenner brought FMU to within 75-73 with 1:07 on the clock.  Two free throws by Bradley with only 27.1 seconds left put the Braves up 77-74.

On the ensuing possession, Fenner hit his three-point from 22 feet out at the top of the key.  After the inbounds pass, Browning picked the pocket of a Braves player and turned and fired in the game-winning shot.  UNCP could only manage a half-court heave that was no good at the buzzer.  The Braves committed 10 turnovers during the FMU rally.

UNC Pembroke led for the majority of the opening half, including a 17-10 advantage near the midway point.  FMU answered with an 11-3 run to take a 21-20 lead following a Browning three-pointer.  The lead would see-saw back and forth until both teams headed to the locker room at halftime knotted at 34-34.

The Braves scored the opening five points of the second stanza and eventaully opened a 51-40 lead after a Winford lay-in with 14:22 on the clock.  Francis Marion could get no closer than seven points over the next 10 minutes setting the stage for the final comeback.

FMU led in fast-break points 23-11 and the Patriot reserves outscored the Braves' bench 42-27.

Francis Marion connected on 45.8 percent of its field goal attempts, including 9-of-27 three-point shots, and the Patriots were 16-of-23 at the foul line.  UNCP shot 47.3 percent from the field, was 9-of-18 from long range, and was also 16-of-23 at the charity stripe.

FMU honored its three seniors – David Jerome, Mykel Harris, and Alex Bryant – prior to tip-off.

2-24-16 7:50 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 79, UNC PEMBROKE 77
UNC PEMBROKE (15-13, 9-10 PBC)
Alex Bradley 5-10 4-4 18; Brandon Winford 6-8 5-7 17; James Murray-Boyles
5-10 3-4 15; Brandon Watts 3-10 2-4 9; Jihad Wright 3-5 0-0 6; Chris Smith
2-2 1-1 6; Carson Mounce 1-3 1-2 3; Mike Smith 1-5 0-1 3; Giavonni Mack 0-0
0-0 0; Daylan Fuller 0-0 0-0 0; Tyler Kordenbrock 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-55
16-23 77.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (17-11 , 9-10 PBC)
Detrek Browning 12-23 1-2 31; Alante Fenner 5-9 4-4 15; Judah Alexander 1-1
7-10 9; A.J. Jackson 4-8 0-0 9; Mike Davis Jr. 2-13 1-4 6; Samson Nnaji 1-1
3-3 5; Kenneth Jackson 2-3 0-0 4; Brandon Parker 0-0 0-0 0; Alex Bryant 0-0
0-0 0; Mykel Harris 0-0 0-0 0; David Jerome 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-59 16-23 79.
Halftime: 34-34
3-point goals--UNC Pembroke 9-18 (Alex Bradley 4-6; James Murray-Boyles 2-4;
Mike Smith 1-4; Chris Smith 1-1; Brandon Watts 1-3), Francis Marion
University 9-27 (Detrek Browning 6-11; A.J. Jackson 1-5; Alante Fenner 1-3;
Mike Davis Jr. 1-8). Fouled out--UNC Pembroke-None, Francis Marion
University-Mike Davis Jr.. Rebounds--UNC Pembroke 38 (Jihad Wright 6; James
Murray-Boyles 6; Brandon Winford 6), Francis Marion University 26 (Judah
Alexander 10). Assists--UNC Pembroke 19 (Alex Bradley 6), Francis Marion
University 10 (Mike Davis Jr. 4). Total fouls--UNC Pembroke 19, Francis
Marion 21. Technical fouls--None. A-1137
Senior Night 2016.  Charges Drawn: Davis Jr., Bradley 2, Nnaji