FMU men survive with 55-51 win over Bearcats

FLORENCE, SC - Junior swingman Simel Boyd scored 12 points and junior guard Bryant Julious sank two clinching free throws with four seconds left to carry Francis Marion University to a 55-51 come-from-behind win over Lander University, Wednesday night (Feb. 17) in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.

Francis Marion improves to 18-6 overall and 10-5 in the Peach Belt, while maintaining its hold on second place in the East Division standings. 

Boyd was the lone Patriot in double figures.  Honored prior to the Senior Night contest, Herman Mains (8), Kaylan Anderson (6), and Kendrick Robinson (3) combined for 17 points.

The Patriots will play host to fifth-ranked and conference-leading Augusta State University on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. as Francis Marion celebrates Homecoming 2010.

Forward Brenton Harris led Lander (11-13, 5-10) with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Both team struggled to score early as Lander led 10-8 at the midway point of the first half. The Bearcats advantage grew to 20-15 before the Patriots cut the deficit to 24-23 at intermission.

FMU took its first lead of the second half at 32-31 on a jump shot in the lane by 6-9 sophomore center Andrew Smith.   A layup by Boyd pushed the margin to 34-31, but Lander responded with a 6-0 run to go ahead 37-34. 

A layup by Harris tied the score at 43-43 with 4:59 left.  Mains then contributed two buckets to a 6-1 spurt that put the Patriots up 49-44 with 2:29 remaining.  An acrobatic three-point play by Harris cut the FMU lead to 51-49 with 1:22 on the clock.

Lander had two possessions to tie the score before Smith drained a pair of free throws with 23 ticks left to put Francis Marion ahead 53-49.  Tovi Bailey scored on a layup for Lander and was fouled with 11 seconds left, but he missed the free throw.  Lander's Antonio Pope grabbed the rebound, but his shot was blocked by Boyd and Anderson grabbed the rebound.  Anderson was fouled and missed two free throws, but Lander turned the ball over and Julious hit his two free throws to seal the victory.

Lander came into the game ranked fourth from the bottom nationally in free throw shooting.  The Bearcats managed only 3-of-11 from the foul line, while Francis Marion was 12-of-17.

Francis Marion also forced 24 Lander turnovers that were converted into 17 points.