WILSON, NC – Francis Marion University ended their three-game road trip against Barton College with a 76-69 Conference Carolinas loss Tuesday night (Nov.30) in men's basketball play.
 
The Patriots (3-2, 1-2) will return to the Smith University Center hosting King University (Tenn.), Friday at 7:30 p.m.
 
FMU head Coach Gary Edwards returned to face off against the first team he ever coached, formerly known as Atlantic Christian College, where he started his head-coaching career in 1984. The Patriots had not played Barton before Tuesday since 1993.
 
After the first six minutes of the contest, FMU would come out hot with a 14-5 lead with freshmen forward Nick Silva adding eight points with six of the points coming from behind the arc as well four rebounds on that run. The Bulldogs would even it back up at the 9:03 mark, and go into the second half with a 32-28 lead.
 
FMU shot 42.4 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from three-point range. Barton had a similar outing shooting 42.1 percent from the floor, but would shoot 23.8 percent from behind the arc. The Patriots would control the boards and out-rebound the Bulldogs 44-39.
 
The Patriots put their big men under the spotlight tonight by scoring 44 of their 69 points in the paint. Graduate student forward Neija Jordan compiled a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Freshman 6-8 center Jonah Pierce led the Patriots with 16 points and reeled in nine rebounds, while Silva tallied 14 points and added nine rebounds. Senior guard Alex Cox and junior guard Tionne Rollins both recorded 10 points. 
 
A Cox three-pointer would even it back up at the 12:20 mark, tying the game at 45 in the second half. The Patriots would keep it close and battle back until the Bulldogs would go on a 7-2 run starting at the 4:40 mark. The run would last until the 1:51 mark with the Bulldogs leading 67-61.
 
Donaven Hairston led Barton (3-2, 1-0) in points with 24 and Marcus Boykin added 18 points. 
 
 
11/30/21 7:30 pm at Wilson, NC
BARTON 76, FRANCIS MARION 69
FRANCIS MARION (3-2,1-2 Conferen)
Jonah Pierce 8-11 0-2 16; Nick Silva 4-13 3-6 14; Nieja Jordan 6-20 1-5 14;
Tionne Rollins 4-9 0-2 10; Alex Cox 4-6 0-0 10; Farid SaintCyr Jr. 2-6 1-2
5; Jedon Ward 0-0 0-0 0; Yohan-Steve Yebga 0-1 0-0 0; Ben Jones 0-0 0-0 0;
Nari Jordan 0-0 0-0 0; Asante Turner 0-0 0-0 0; Ja'Lil Robinson 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 28-66 5-17 69.
BARTON (3-2,1-0 Conferen)
Donaven Hairston 7-12 8-8 24; Marcus Boykin 5-13 8-11 18; Malik Bryant 6-12
0-0 12; Kanayo Nwosu 2-2 5-6 9; Jett Fortuny 3-7 0-0 9; Trevon Spencer 1-6
0-3 2; Caleb Reams 0-3 1-2 1; David Campbell 0-1 1-2 1; P.J. Savage 0-1 0-0
0. Totals 24-57 23-32 76.
Halftime: Barton 32 Francis Marion 28
3-point goals--Francis Marion 8-17 (Nick Silva 3-4; Alex Cox 2-3; Tionne
Rollins 2-5; Nieja Jordan 1-4; Farid SaintCyr Jr. 0-1), Barton 5-21 (Jett
Fortuny 3-6; Donaven Hairston 2-4; Malik Bryant 0-3; Trevon Spencer 0-3;
Caleb Reams 0-2; P.J. Savage 0-1; Marcus Boykin 0-2). Fouled out--Francis
Marion-Nieja Jordan, Barton-None. Rebounds--Francis Marion 44 (Nieja Jordan
14), Barton 39 (Kanayo Nwosu 11). Assists--Francis Marion 17 (Nieja Jordan
4), Barton 13 (Malik Bryant 5). Total fouls--Francis Marion 25, Barton 18.
Technical fouls--None. A-250