WILSON, NC – Junior forward Jordyn Surratt led Francis Marion University with 16 points and seven rebounds in a 98-67 loss to Barton College on Saturday (Dec. 14) afternoon.
 
The Patriots (3-7, 1-2) will continue Conference Carolinas action in a road game against Converse University on Tuesday (Dec. 17) afternoon. Tip-off will begin at 4 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.
 
FMU junior forward Latavian Lawrence chipped in 13 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Also scoring in double-figures was junior guard Jordan Simson who tallied 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals.
 
Shawn Nelson led Barton (6-5, 2-2) with 20 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and two steals.
 
In the opening minutes of the first half, Francis Marion trailed 9-6 behind the Bulldogs before a three-pointer from the wing by junior center A.J. Hamrick knotted the score at 9-9. The Patriots jumped ahead to 12-9, but Barton exchanged leads once again and held a seven-point advantage at 22-15.
 
After the Bulldogs widened the margin to 30-17, buckets from Surratt and Horaces Jacques Jr. brought the Patriots within nine points with 8:11 left on the clock.    
 
Francis Marion trailed 51-35 at halftime.
 
Barton never relinquished the advantage for the remainder of the contest. In the second minute of the second half, Francis Marion climbed to a deficit of 12-points at 53-41 as Simpson laid in a bucket. A pair of free throws from Lawrence broke a scoreless four minutes for FMU, leaving the Patriots to trail 86-60 with 7:51 left.