SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In the first round of the Atlantic Casualty Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championship, the 10th-seeded King University men's basketball team took on seventh-seeded Francis Marion University at Converse University on Sunday evening. The Tornado made a run in the second half to pull within five, but Francis Marion pulled away down the stretch to take the contest 100-80.
THE BASICS
FINAL: No. 7 Francis Marion 80, No. 10 King 80
LOCATION: Gibbs Field House; Spartanburg, S.C.
RECORDS: King 7-22; Francis Marion 14-13
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Francis Marion jumped out to an 8-2 lead before a pair of Michael Mays free throws and a Darron Howard triple.
- However, the Patriots scored 10 of the next 12 points to take an 18-9 lead before a Henry Okoye offensive rebound and layup.
- King tried to comeback throughout the half, but the Patriots had an answer each time as Francis Marion shot 57.9 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
- Myles McCrary converted a three-point play and Mays made a layup before a Jordan Akal layup pulled King within 31-25 with eight minutes remaining in the half.
- However, the Patriots outscored King 24-11 over the final 7:38 of the half.
- That included runs of 6-0 and 7-0 as Francis Marion took a 55-36 lead at the half.
Second Half
- King got off to a good start as layups from Mays and Howard pulled the Tornado within 59-44 in the opening minutes of the half.
- Jaylen Bernard then scored six straight points before a Howard triple pulled King within 61-53 following the 9-0 run.
- The Tornado later scored six straight points as a McCrary layup cut the King deficit to 70-65 with 10 minutes remaining.
- However, the Patriots responded with an 8-2 run to extend the lead to 78-67.
- Francis Marion later went on a 7-0 run to take an 85-70 lead as the Patriots gradually extended the lead over the final five minutes.
- Francis Marion took the contest 100-80.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Mays led five King scorers in double figures with 10 points and five rebounds.
- Lamberth followed with 17 points and six rebounds.
- Howard added 14 points while Bernard and McCrary chipped in with 10 points each.
FOR THE FOES
- Doug Alves led Francis Marion's five scorers in double figures with 20 points.
- Alex Cox added 18 points, five rebounds and four assists.
- Tionne Rollins scored 15 points and added nine rebounds.
- Bryce Beamer scored 15 points and Farid Saint Cyr Jr. chipped in with 12 points.
