FLORENCE, SC – Freshman 6-7 forward Alex Atkinson registered career-highs of 28 points (on 10-of-11 shooting) and 15 rebounds to lead Francis Marion University to a 121-103 defeat of the University of Mount Olive in Conference Carolinas men's play on Wednesday (Jan. 15) night.
 
The Patriots (5-10, 3-4) will return to the court on Saturday (Jan. 18) as they host Erskine College at 4 p.m.
 
The point total was the sixth-highest in program history and the most for the Patriots since a 123-114 victory at Coker University on Nov.5, 2023.
 
Atkinson's shooting exhibition was just shy of the school record for accuracy: 12-of-12 by both Bob Graziano against Wofford College in 1981 and Jonah Pierce against North Greenville University in 2022.  Atkinson, a product of Lower Richland High School, also blocked six shots, three shy of the school record.  In addition to his near perfect night from the field, he was 7-of-7 at the foul line.

Almost securing his first career triple-double, senior forward Ibrahim Wattara chipped in a career-high 29 points, nine rebounds, and a game-high nine assists.  Junior guard Jordan Simpson matched Atkinson with a career-high 28 points of his own as he connected on 6-of-11 from beyond the three-point line.
 
Junior forwards Latavian Lawrence (18) and Jordyn Surratt (9) combined for another 27 points, with Surratt also pulling down 10 rebounds.
 
Mount Olive's Chase Dawson paced the Trojans (6-11, 4-5) with a game-high 36 points.
 
In the opening minutes of the first half, Francis Marion jumped to an early 12-8 lead with a bucket from Atkinson. Both teams exchanged the lead multiple times before the Patriots settled into a groove and went on an eight-point spurt to lead 22-15.
 
A pair of free throws from Atkinson and a bucket by Wattara boosted Francis Marion to a score of 36-25 at the 8:27 mark. With 5:55 left on the clock, Mount Olive had cut the deficit to 40-36, shortly before FMU could extend the lead once again.
 
The teams entered halftime as Francis Marion led 57-50.
 
Just three minutes into the second stanza, Mount Olive knotted the game at 63-63. The Trojans then took a one-point advantage before the Patriots regained it with a shot from Atkinson bringing the score to 67-66.
 
The margin was only 10 (100-90) with 5:12 left in the contest, when Wattara, Surratt, and Simpson combined for a quick 7-0 run.  Altogether Francis Marion outscored Mount Olive 22-13 over the final 5:03, with the largest margin coming at 120-99 after a three-pointer by Lawrence.
 
Despite 11 lead changes and eight ties, Francis Marion held the lead for 33:34 minutes of the contest.
 
FMU shot a sizzling 60.9 percent from the floor, including 10-of-21 from three-point range, and was 27-of-32 at the foul line.  UMO connected on 45.6 percent of its field goal attempts and was 26-of-32 at the free throw line.
 
The Patriots held a 46-28 edge in rebounding, dominating second-chance points 21-10.