Francis Marion spells Bees 82-65 in Zaxby's Tip-Off Clazzic

FLORENCE, SC - Senior forward Sam Smith scored 18 points and backcourt mates Kendrick Robinson and Crayton Jones posted career highs of 16 and 15 points respectively as Francis Marion University defeated Savannah College of Art and Design 82-65, Friday night (Nov. 21) in the Zaxby's Tip-Off Clazzic.

Francis Marion improves to 3-0, while handing the Bees (6-1), who were off to their best start in program history, their first loss of 2008.  Coker College beat UNC Pembroke 80-71 in Friday's opening game.

FMU plays Coker on Saturday at 6 p.m., while SCAD and UNCP battle at 4 p.m. General admission tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students.

Smith hit on 7-of-9 shots, including three thunderous slam dunks.  Jones handed out eight assists, while Robinson pulled down a team-high six rebounds.  Sophomore 6-7 post player David Turner added 11 points and five rebounds.

Swingman Xavier Blain-Cruz paced SCAD with 15 points, while 6-9 sophomore center Christian Moore and 5-8 guard Chas Johnson each scored 10 points.

SCAD's only lead came at 2-0 on a basket by Rashad Parker to open the game.  A 12-0 run late in the first half enable FMU to open a 40-24 advantage and the Patriots led 40-28 at intermission.

In the second stanza, Francis Marion hit on 12-of-18 field goal attempts and 15-of-20 free throws to hold off the Bees.  SCAD did trim the deficit to 59-54 on a layup by Ron Kus with 7:38 left.  However, FMU scored the next nine points - four by Jones - to lead 68-54.  The margin would swell to 78-58 on a pair of free throws by Turner with 2:21 remaining.

The game was marred by 57 fouls and the two teams combined to shoot 71 free throws.

11-21-08 8:17 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 82, SAVANNAH ART & DESIGN 65

SAVANNAH ART & DESIGN (6-1)
Xaier Blain-Cruz 3-6 8-9 15; Chas Johnson 2-9 5-6 10; Christian Moore 3-8
4-4 10; Nick Maloy 3-9 1-1 8; Brandon Chambers 2-6 4-6 8; Rashad Parker 2-5
1-2 5; Romell Witherspoon 2-9 1-2 5; Ron Kus 1-4 1-2 3; Jamall Hinds 0-0 1-2
1; Jon Mudra 0-1 0-0 0; Mihajlo Crnogorac 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-58 26-34 65.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (3-0)
Smith, Sam 7-9 4-5 18; Robinson, Kendrick 6-10 1-2 16; Jones, Crayton 4-5
7-11 15; Turner, David 2-3 7-8 11; French, Matt 1-4 5-5 7; Jones, Stanley
1-3 3-3 5; Boyd, Simel 2-2 0-0 4; Wallen, Anthony 1-2 0-0 3; Clark, Kevin
1-1 0-0 2; Bjornsson, Brynjar 0-3 1-3 1; Power, Houston 0-0 0-0 0. Totals
25-42 28-37 82.
Halftime: Francis Marion 40 Savannah Art & Design 28
3-point goals--Savannah Art & Design 3-13 (Nick Maloy 1-3; Chas Johnson 1-5;
Xavier Blain-Cruz 1-2; Romell Witherspoon 0-2; Ron Kus 0-1), Francis Marion
University 4-13 (Robinson, Kendrick 3-7; Wallen, Anthony 1-2; Turner, David
0-1; French, Matt 0-1; Bjornsson, Brynjar 0-2). Fouled out--Savannah Art &
Design-Xavier Blain-Cruz; Nick Maloy, Francis Marion University-None.
Rebounds--Savannah Art & Design 24 (Christian Moore 4; Brandon Chambers 4),
Francis Marion University 36 (Robinson, Kendrick 6). Assists--Savannah Art &
Design 11 (Xavier Blain-Cruz 4), Francis Marion University 18 (Jones,
Crayton 8). Total fouls--Savannah Art & Design 27, Francis Marion University
30. Technical fouls--Savannah Art & Design-Nick Maloy, Francis Marion
University-Smith, Sam. A-680