BANNER ELK, N.C. –
Timon Jones finished with a career-high 20 points, while
Gabe Bryant posted his first double-double of the season and
Drew Gardner tallied 11 points and six rebounds, to lead the Lees-McRae men's basketball team clinched an 84-74 win over Francis Marion to move to 6-2 on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court this season.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 84; Francis Marion – 74
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (12-7/10-6), Francis Marion (8-11/6-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Jones shot 6 of 10 from distance to lead the Bobcats in scoring, while chipping in two rebounds and two assists.
- Bryant tallied a career-high 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Gardner shot 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
- Malik McConnell added 10 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while both Sidney Dollar and Cale Harris finished with nine rebounds.
- Both teams traded runs early with the Bobcats taking their first double-digit lead with a layup by London England to extend the lead to 32-20 with five minutes left in the first half.
- A late three-point field goal by the Patriots cut the lead to 41-35 at the halftime whistle.
- The lead remained under three points for the first nine minutes of the second half until a three-point field goal by Carter Phillips gave the Bobcats a 59-53 lead.
- After Francis Marion rallied once again, Sidney Dollar used a layup with 3:10 remaining to give Lees-McRae a 75-67 lead.
- The Bobcats outscored the visitors 9-7 in the final three minutes to clinch the conference win.
- Lees-McRae held a 28-15 edge in bench production and a 19-14 advantage in fastbreak points.
FOR THE FOES:
- Jonah Pierce finished with a game-high 21 points to pace the Patriots, while two other Francis Marion players scored in double figures.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will host UNC Pembroke tomorrow at 4 p.m. on their Senior Night.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
