FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University men's basketball program begins the 2026-27 campaign on Monday night (Nov. 9) by hosting Morris College in a non-conference matchup in the Smith University Center at 7:30 p.m.
 
The season opener against the Hornets will kick off a 28-game schedule this winter, including 16 home contests at the Smith University Center. Single-game admission to Patriot home games is $10 for adults and $5 for students, while FMU students are admitted free with their ID. Additionally, kids under the age of five also receive free admission.
 
FMU fans can also purchase a season pass for $150, which provides access to all home men's and women's basketball contests. (CLICK HERE)
 
Following the home opener, the Patriots will travel to Bluffton, S.C., for the Conference Crossover with games scheduled versus Flagler College (Nov. 13) and USC Beaufort (Nov. 14). FMU returns to the UC on Wednesday, Nov. 18, to host Georgia Southwestern State University at 7:30 p.m. before beginning Conference Carolinas play at Shorter University on Saturday, Nov. 21.
 
Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Jake Zehnder, FMU welcomes back nine returnees from the 2025-26 roster while introducing nine newcomers. Last season, FMU posted a 7-22 overall record with a 7-13 mark in conference play while making an appearance in the First Round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
 
The Patriots were selected seventh in the recently released Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll.
 
Leading the returnees are senior 5-11 guard Kennard Davis and redshirt senior 6-1 guard/forward Adonis Cole. Davis missed part of last season due to injury, while Cole played in 28 games with 25 starts.
 
"We got a couple of experienced players in Kennard (Davis) and Adonis (Cole), but we are still a relatively young team," said Zehnder when talking about the returning roster. "The returnees who weren't in a leadership role last year have been able to take the newcomers under their wing to reiterate what we are trying to accomplish as a team, which has been a pleasant surprise."
 
Davis averaged 12.3 points, 6.6 assists, and 3.2 rebounds, while converting 87.8 percent (72-of-82) from the free-throw line in just 16 games. Cole, who has played in 73 career games with the Patriots, averaged 9.1 ppg and 6.1 rpg in 2025-26, while boasting a .482 field goal percentage.
 
The 2026-27 roster welcomes six transfers and three freshmen – including the sophomore guard duo of 6-3 Camryn Pacheco (3.5 ppg, 1.5 apg, 1.4 rpg) and 6-4 Da'Ron Dunbar (3.9 ppg, 1,4 rpg), who both transferred from Augusta University. Also, joining the Patriots this season is 6-4 redshirt freshman guard TJ Lewis, who transfers in from USC Upstate. Junior 6-8 forward Emmanuel Okitondo comes to the Patriots from Allegany College of Maryland and will bring athleticism in the paint as he continues to grow in the system.
 
"Camryn Pacheco has a really bright future, and I think his best basketball is ahead of him as he's found his love for the game again. TJ (Lewis) is phenomenal; he is talented and can spread the floor while bringing a lot of athleticism to the perimeter that we didn't have last year," expressed Zehnder. "Da'Ron Dunbar can really score it and has shown a lot of growth"
 
Zehnder also welcomes two new assistant coaches, Timothy Rodriguez and Elijah Saunders. "Tim Rodriguez is spectacular and reads my mind when it comes to scouting and handling our day-to-day tasks. He had excellent references from several coaches and adds a ton of value to our program. Elijah is going to be great as he continues to get a deeper understanding of collegiate basketball since a majority of his experience is coaching at the high school and AAU level. He has done a great job at player development and will continue to gain knowledge as the season goes on."
 
The Patriots are looking to embody the words "Together and Toughness", entering the 2026-27 campaign. This new chapter of FMU Men's Basketball has plenty of new faces and several returners looking to step up heading into the season. Zehnder is encouraged by the size and athleticism of the roster to deliver toughness. The team has been very unselfish through the preseason, but needs to take the best shot available during each possession in order to find success.
 
The 2027 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championship Tournament will get underway on February 28 and March 1 at on-campus sites. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are set for March 5, 6, and 7 at the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on the campus of Wofford College.