FLORENCE, SC – An 18-2 run early in the second half enabled 16th-ranked UNC Pembroke to pull away for a 94-60 win over Francis Marion University, Wednesday night (Feb. 26) in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.

Francis Marion celebrated Senior Night prior to tip-off by honoring its one senior, point guard Jaquez Smith.  Smith scored three points, grabbed six rebounds, and handed out seven assists to push his career total 361, third-best in team history.

Junior Keith Matthews and freshman Ja'Lil Robinson each scored 14 points to lead FMU, while freshman post player Jamal Edmonson came off the Patriot bench and contributed 11 points.  Robinson was 4-of-5 from behind the three-point arc.

Jordan Ratliffe paced four Braves in double figures with 17 points.

A free throw by Edmonson 4:25 into the second half brought Francis Marion to within 13 points at 51-38.  However, UNCP responded with its big spurt and the resulting margin was too much for the Patriots to overcome.

Francis Marion will play its final game of the 2019-20 campaign at Flagler College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Post-game comments from FMU head coach Gary Edwards

02/26/20 7:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
#16/#19 UNC PEMBROKE 94, FRANCIS MARION 60
UNC PEMBROKE (22-5,16-3 Peach)
Jordan Ratliffe 4-11 7-7 17; Tyrell Kirk 5-11 0-0 13; David Strother 5-12
0-0 13; Spencer Levi 3-6 6-8 12; Jabrie Bullard 3-6 0-0 8; Shaun Kirk 2-5
2-2 8; Akia Pruitt 4-11 0-0 8; Carson Mounce 2-6 3-4 7; Dewan Lesesne 2-3
0-4 4; Micah Kinsey 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 32-74 18-25 94.
FRANCIS MARION (4-22,3-16 Peach)
Ja'Lil Robinson 5-9 0-0 14; Keith Matthews 5-10 3-4 14; Jamal Edmonson 4-5
2-3 11; Trey Jones 3-8 1-2 8; Loginn Norton 2-4 0-0 5; Winston Hill 1-10 3-4
5; Jaquez Smith 1-9 0-0 3; Gabriel Dickerson 0-0 0-0 0; Alex Cox 0-4 0-0 0.
Totals 21-59 9-13 60.
UNC Pembroke..................   41   53  -   94
Francis Marion…................   26   34  -   60
3-point goals--UNC Pembroke 12-25 (David Strother 3-6; Tyrell Kirk 3-5;
Jordan Ratliffe 2-5; Shaun Kirk 2-3; Jabrie Bullard 2-5; Akia Pruitt 0-1),
Francis Marion 9-30 (Ja'Lil Robinson 4-5; Keith Matthews 1-3; Loginn Norton
1-3; Trey Jones 1-5; Jamal Edmonson 1-2; Jaquez Smith 1-6; Alex Cox 0-4;
Winston Hill 0-2). Fouled out--UNC Pembroke-None, Francis Marion-Ja'Lil
Robinson. Rebounds--UNC Pembroke 47 (Tyrell Kirk 9), Francis Marion 34
(Keith Matthews 6; Jaquez Smith 6; Winston Hill 6). Assists--UNC Pembroke 19
(Shaun Kirk 6), Francis Marion 12 (Jaquez Smith 7). Total fouls--UNC
Pembroke 13, Francis Marion 20. Technical fouls--None. A-1334