BANNER ELK, N.C. – Francis Marion's Horaces Jacque Jr. hit the game-winning shot at the end of regulation to earn the 93-90 victory over Lees-McRae men's basketball on Saturday.
Ja'Quavian Florence and
Timon Jones led the Bobcats in scoring with 16 points apiece on the day.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Francis Marion – 93; Lees-McRae – 90
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Francis Marion (7-8/5-2); Lees-McRae (10-5/4-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lees-McRae battled back in the last 1:24 of regulation to tie the score at 90 points. Florence got the Bobcats back within three off a jumper with 51 seconds left and Jaylin Stewart hit the front end of two free throws. Florence buried another jumper inside the paint with 11 seconds remaining to knot the game at 90.
- Francis Marion called a timeout with eight seconds left in the second half and Jacques Jr. knocked down a three with zeroes on the clock to give the Patriots the 93-90 Conference Carolinas victory.
- The Bobcats used a 12-3 run at the end of the first half to gain the 45-35 margin. Francis Marion turned the tables in the second half with 58 points on 21-32 (65.63%) from the field.
- Lees-McRae went 33-62 (53.2%) from the floor with seven three-pointers and 17-23 from the free throw line.
- Florence and Jones recorded 16 points apiece on a combined 11-17 from the field. Nico Ashley followed with 13 points on 5-6 shooting and Stewart added 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
- LJ Rogers rounded out the Bobcats in double-digit scoring with 13 on 5-6 shooting. Sidney Dollar, Jones, and Rogers all added three steals in the game and Ashley had two blocks on the day.
FOR THE PATRIOTS:
- Bryce Beamer guided Francis Marion in the win with a game-high 28 points on 11-17 shooting and added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Ibrahim Wattara had a double-double off the bench for the Patriots with 19 points and 10 boards.
- Jacques Jr. poured in 13 points in 32 minutes and Farid SaintCyr Jr. tallied 11 points. Tionne Rollins rounded out the scorers in double figures for Francis Marion with 10.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae men's basketball opens Conference Carolinas Northwest Division play on Wednesday, Jan. 17 when the Bobcats host Belmont Abbey at 7 p.m.
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