FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University overcame a 20-0 run by Lees-McRae College to start Saturday afternoon's (Dec. 4) Conference Carolinas match-up, but a late 12-3 spurt by the Bobcats proved decisive as FMU fell 69-63 in men's basketball play.
 
The Patriots (3-4, 1-4) will break for exams before heading back on the road to visit Chowan University on Dec. 15 and Southern Wesleyan University on Dec. 18.
 
In the first six minutes of the contest, the Bobcats would come out hot, taking a 20-0 lead. Drew Gardner would hit a pair of three-pointers and a layup to help Lees McRae to that lead. The Patriots would answer with a 15-4 run, started by a three-pointer from senior guard Alex Cox, to make the score 24-15.
 
With the Patriots going into the second half down by 6, at 35-29, FMU would bring it within one point after consecutive three-pointers by freshmen guard Farid SaintCyr Jr. and freshmen forward Nick Silva. FMU would take its first lead at 12:41 after a pull-up 16-foot jumper from freshmen forward Jonah Pierce, making the score 49-48.
 
The Patriots held a 60-57 advantage following a three-point play by Pierce with 4:28 remaining.  However, the Bobcats rattled off eight straight points and 12 of the game's final 15 to secure the win.
 
FMU shot 32.0 percent from the field, while Lees-McRae connected on 36.5 percent from the floor. The Patriots would control the boards and out-rebound the Bobcats 48-40. Nearly half of the Francis Marion's points would come from within the paint, hitting 30 of the 63 inside.
 
Pierce led the Patriots with 21 points and 12 rebounds, giving him his fourth double-double of the season. Junior guard Tionne Rollins would have 12 points and two steals, while going 4-4 at the line. Silva registered nine points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Patriots would shoot 8-of-13 from the free throw line, while Lees McRae shot 26-of-36.
 
Gardner led Lees-McRae (5-2, 3-1) with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Sidney Dollar and Malik McConnell added 12 points each. 

 
 
12/04/21 4:00 pm at Florence, SC
LEES-MCRAE 69, FRANCIS MARION 63
LEES-MCRAE (5-2,3-1 Conferen)
Drew Gardner 9-17 3-6 25; Malik McConnell 1-4 10-12 12; Sidney Dollar 5-7
2-4 12; Justin Nichelson 2-8 6-6 11; Jaylin Stewart 1-5 2-4 4; London
England 1-2 2-2 4; Cale Harris 0-0 1-2 1; Gabe Bryant 0-0 0-0 0; Follie
Bogan 0-2 0-0 0; Timon Jones 0-7 0-0 0. Totals 19-52 26-36 69.
FRANCIS MARION (3-4,1-4 Conferen)
Jonah Pierce 9-13 3-5 21; Tionne Rollins 3-14 4-4 12; Nick Silva 3-6 1-2 9;
Farid SaintCyr Jr. 3-9 0-0 8; Alex Cox 3-12 0-1 7; Nieja Jordan 2-12 0-0 4;
Yohan-Steve Yebga 1-6 0-1 2; Nari Jordan 0-1 0-0 0; Matthew Lee 0-2 0-0 0;
Ben Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-75 8-13 63.
Halftime: Lees-McRae 35 Francis Marion 29
3-point goals--Lees-McRae 5-20 (Drew Gardner 4-7; Justin Nichelson 1-5;
Sidney Dollar 0-1; London England 0-1; Follie Bogan 0-1; Timon Jones 0-4;
Malik McConnell 0-1), Francis Marion 7-34 (Tionne Rollins 2-10; Nick Silva
2-5; Farid SaintCyr Jr. 2-6; Alex Cox 1-8; Nieja Jordan 0-4; Jonah Pierce
0-1). Fouled out--Lees-McRae-None, Francis Marion-Jonah Pierce.
Rebounds--Lees-McRae 40 (Drew Gardner 11), Francis Marion 48 (Jonah Pierce
12). Assists--Lees-McRae 10 (Malik McConnell 3), Francis Marion 14 (Alex Cox
4). Total fouls--Lees-McRae 15, Francis Marion 25. Technical fouls--None. A-533