AUGUSTA, GA – Francis Marion University overcame a 23-point first-half deficit to take a second-half lead, but the Patriots eventually succumbed to Augusta University 94-81, Wednesday (Jan. 15) night in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.

The Patriots return home this weekend to start a span of four PBC games in eight days.  FMU will host Clayton State University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Senior point guard Jaquez Smith scored a career-high 26 points, including making 5-of-8 three-pointers, to lead FMU.  Freshman swingman Ja'Lil Robinson scored a career-high 19 points, including five three-pointers on only seven attempts, and freshman post Jamal Edmonson tallied a career-high 15 points.  Junior forward Keith Matthews added eight points and a team-high five rebounds.

Troy Cracknell paced Augusta (10-4) with 23 points, while Rafael Monteiro recorded 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Five straight points from Matthews allowed FMU to take a 62-60 lead with 11:03 remaining.

Francis Marion shot 50 percent from the floor, including making 15-of-30 three-point attempts.

1/15/20 8:00 at Augusta, Ga.
AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY 94, FRANCIS MARION 81
FMU (3-10)
Jaquez Smith 8-20 5-7 26; Ja'Lil Robinson 7-9 0-0 19; Jamal Edmonson 6-10
1-2 15; Keith Matthews 3-6 2-3 8; Alex Cox 2-2 0-0 5; Trey Jones 1-3 0-0 3;
Loginn Norton 1-3 0-0 3; Gabriel Dickerson 1-1 0-0 2; Quinten Thomas 0-4 0-0
0. Totals 29-58 8-12 81.
AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY (10-4)
Troy Cracknell 8-13 1-4 23; Rafael Monteiro 5-6 9-10 19; Tyshaun Crawford
7-9 3-4 17; Darren Lucas-White 5-7 5-5 16; Miguel Arnold 4-10 0-0 10; Tyree
Myers 1-2 4-4 7; Robert Barlund 0-0 2-2 2; Shawn Moss 0-3 0-0 0; Gabriel
Moller 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-50 24-29 94.
FMU...........................   41   40  -   81
Augusta ………..........   46   48  -   94
3-point goals--FMU 15-30 (Ja'Lil Robinson 5-7; Jaquez Smith 5-8; Jamal
Edmonson 2-5; Alex Cox 1-1; Trey Jones 1-3; Loginn Norton 1-3; Quinten
Thomas 0-2; Keith Matthews 0-1), Augusta University 10-20 (Troy Cracknell
6-11; Miguel Arnold 2-7; Darren Lucas-White 1-1; Tyree Myers 1-1). Fouled
out--FMU-Keith Matthews, Augusta University-None. Rebounds--FMU 20 (Keith
Matthews 5), Augusta University 34 (Rafael Monteiro 9). Assists--FMU 6
(Ja'Lil Robinson 4), Augusta University 15 (Rafael Monteiro 6). Total
fouls--FMU 19, Augusta 10. Technical fouls--None.