Lions Looking To Upend Host Ave Maria Wednesday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (1-1, 1-1) at Ave Mara Gyrenes (3-3, 1-0)
When: Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Where: Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, Fla. | Tom Golisano Field House
Tipoff: 7:30 p.m.* (30 minutes after women's game)
Last Meeting: Jan. 30, 2020, Loss 96-65
Live Stream Video: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team will be looking to capture its first road win of the season Wednesday when it travels to face Ave Maria University in the Tom Golisano Field House.

The game is scheduled to tipoff at 7:30 p.m., but will actually begin 30 minutes following the conclusion of the preceding women's basketball game between the programs. Ave Maria University COVID-19 fan protocol does not allow for visiting fans to attend games, but the game will be streamed online free of charge.

FMU (1-1, 1-1 The Sun Conference) enters Wednesday's game riding the high of having knocked off rival St. Thomas University this past Saturday. The Lions got a season-high 32 points from senior transfer guard Sam Mack Jr. Playing his first game this season, Mack knocked down 5 three-pointers and scored 14 crucial points in the second half.

The Lions also got a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double from 7-foot center Mubashar Ali and an efficient 16 points (7-for-11 from the field) from junior Tristan Stephens.

Just like in the past couple of years, when Florida Memorial faces off against Ave Maria it will be taking on a single dynamic scorer that is the centerpiece of the Gyrenes offense.

Graduated is Leo Behrend, a 2019 NAIA Third Team All-American and First Team All-Sun Conference performer who put 41 points on the Lions in a game this past season, and taking his place is senior guard Eric Klekas. The 6-foot-1 Klekas transferred into Ave Maria from Arizona Christian University and instantly became the team's go-to option – averaging 20.5 points per game this season. A versatile and savvy scorer, Klekas is shooting 34 percent from three and 92 percent from the free throw line.

Klekas' backcourt mate, freshman Chayse Culpepper – the son of former NFL quarterback Daunte Culpepper – is averaging 10 points per game. However, the two have shown that the propensity to be a bit loose with the ball – totaling 27 turnovers between them through six games.

It wouldn't be shocking to see FMU head coach Ansar Al-Ameen throw a handful of different types of defenders at Klekas.

He may start Muhammad Gilchrist on him, matching heights; but he could elect to throw more size at the opposing scoring guard by sending 6-foot-7 Quincy Urbina his way; or he could elect to go with the speed and quickness of senior guard Aubrey Washington to slow down Klekas.

The Lions' offensive advantage would come from the size, physicality, and talent of their frontcourt. Ali's length is tough to match and he has the potential to get his shot against almost any defender. Mack, a Chicago, Illinois native, plays even bigger than his 6-foot-4 frame would say and is comfortable driving the lane or shooting from long range.

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