Long-range attack carries Patriots past Builders 101-63

FLORENCE, SC – Freshman guard Evrik Gary scored a team-high 19 points and his five three-pointers were part of a school-record 17 long-distance shots made by Francis Marion University as the Patriots cruised to a 101-63 non-conference victory over The Apprentice School, Saturday afternoon (Dec. 4) in men’s college basketball action.

Francis Marion ends the 2010 portion of its schedule with a 6-2 mark.  The Patriots will now break for exams and the Christmas holidays before returning to action on Jan. 2 at UNC Pembroke.

Gary was one of six Patriots in double figures as every member of the squad scored.  Senior Simel Boyd registered 14 points and eight rebounds, while senior swingman Dominique Coleman recorded a double-double (12 points/11 rebounds) in his first start as a Patriot.

Juniors Liki Turner and Shawn Greenfield each scored 11 points, while 6-10 junior center Andrew Smith chipped in 10 points.  Both Gary and Greenfield also handed out seven assists apiece.

The 17 three-pointers eclipsed the school record of 16 set twice – once in 2006 and once in 2005, both times against UNC Pembroke.  The Patriots needed only 32 attempts as FMU shot 53.1 percent from behind the arc, including 70.6 percent (12-of-17) over the final 20 minutes.

FMU also tied another school record by shooting 100 percent from the free throw line, albeit a 2-of-2 performance.  Both charity tosses came in the second half – by Liki Turner – at the 7:41 mark.  Only once in school history have the Patriots failed to attempt at least one free throw and that came in 1972 against Erskine College.

Junior forward Isaih Harrison led The Apprentice School (5-3) with 20 points, eight rebounds, and five steals.  Sophomore swingman Tevin Andrews tallied 13 points and eight rebounds, while Andre Henderson added 12 points and nine rebounds and Tim Johnson 10 points.

Francis Marion scored the opening four points and never trailed in the contest.  The margin would swell to 18 points at 29-11 following a tip-in by Coleman.  The Apprentice School gradually closed the gap to 10 points at 40-30 following a three-point play by Johnson with 1:22 left before halftime.  Francis Marion led 45-31 at intermission.

Twelve points was as close as the Builders would get in the second stanza.