FMU men's hoop team opens season against UPR in Florida

The Francis Marion University men's basketball team opens its 2008-09 season on Saturday (Nov. 15) at 4 p.m. when the Patriots play the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in the Florida Tech Tip-Off Classic.

FMU will play the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras on Sunday at 2 p.m.  The four-team classic will be played in FIT's 1,500-seat Clemente Center.

Both of the UPR squads are affiliated with the NCAA Division II.

Third-year FMU head coach Gary Edwards welcomes back seven lettermen, including all five starters, from last year's 12-16 team, including the Peach Belt Conference 2007-08 Freshman of the Year.  FMU ended last season strong, winning four of its last seven contests.  Edwards is also beginning his 25th season as a college head coach, after last season surpassing the 400-win plateau for his career. 

The starters returning for Francis Marion include 6-2 senior guards Houston Power and Crayton Jones, 6-5 senior forward Sam Smith, 6-7 senior center Kevin Clark, and 6-4 sophomore forward Simel Boyd.  Power led the Patriots in scoring last year (11.1 points per game) and connected on 34.5 percent of his three-point attempts.  Both Power and Jones (3.4 ppg) compiled more assists than turnovers last year, while directing the Patriot offense.

Smith, the squad's most valuable player last year, averaged 10.6 ppg and led the team in rebounding at 4.3 rebounds per game.  Clark averaged 8.0 ppg and 4.0 rpg while making nearly 50 percent of his field goal attempts.  Boyd (5.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg) was honored as the top freshman in the conference after coming on strong at the end of the 2007-08 campaign.

Also returning is athletic 6-1 junior guard Micheal Laney (4.4 ppg) and rugged 6-7 sophomore forward David Turner (4.5 ppg).

However, Edwards will also have two other "starters" at his disposal.  Senior 6-9 center Stanley Jones joins the Patriot squad after starting in the post position during his three seasons at Division I Furman University.  Junior 6-7 frontline player Matt French was a part-time starter during his two seasons at Division I Gardner-Webb University before transferring to FMU.

Edwards said, "Stanley has the size (6-9) and strength (235 pounds) to be a force in the middle for the Patriots this season.  At Furman, he was used primarily as a rebounder and defender and averaged 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds last season.  I have found though, that he also possesses a soft shooting touch and outstanding coordination around the basket. He will be able to overpower many of our opponents.  Matt is from Melbourne, Australia, and has valuable international playing experience. He is a very talented big man who can step away from the basket. He will be used in a variety of ways on the offensive end of the court."  French averaged 4.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 28 contests last year.

Also joining the Patriot program are 6-3 freshman swingman Brynjar Bjornsson, 6-2 junior guard Kendrick Robinson, 6-3 junior swingman Anthony Wallen, 5-8 junior guard Harry Austin, and 6-0 junior guard Mark Sinkler.

Robinson started at the point guard position for two seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College and will battle for playing time as the quarterback of an up-tempo Patriot attack. He averaged over 13 points and three assists per game at SMC, while earning All-Region honors both seasons.  "Kendrick is a true point guard who will help improve our transition game, said Edwards.  "He can also stop on a dime to shoot it and is a great passer."

Wallen also transfers to Francis Marion from the junior college ranks. Although splitting time last season with a Division I college-bound guard, Wallen managed to average nearly 10 points a game and help lead Northwest-Shoals Community College to a school-record 18 wins.  He was also one of the nation's top three-point shooters.  "Anthony is a very athletic guard who can shoot it and run the floor. He will surprise people with his athleticism on both ends of the court."

Bjornsson brings a wealth of experience to the Patriot roster despite being a freshman. As a member of the Icelandic National Basketball team, Bjornsson has participated in numerous international competitions. "Brynjar is a mature young man who is very experienced playing basketball on the international level," Edwards said.  "Like many Europeans, he is an outstanding shooter and understands the fundamentals of the game."

Austin was a teammate of Robinson at Spartanburg Methodist, averaging 4.2 points and 1.4 assists per game last year, while Sinkler joins the team as a walk-on from the FMU student body.

The Patriots' 27-game schedule includes 14 home contests, starting with the Zaxby's Tip-Off Clazzic, Nov. 21-22.  Francis Marion was picked to finish ninth in the Peach Belt Conference pre-season coaches' poll.