FMU Men Confident Heading To St. Thomas Tuesday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (4-8, 4-4) at St. Thomas University Bobcats (5-5, 4-4)
When: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Where: St. Thomas University, Miami Gardens, Fla. | Fernandez Family Center
Tip-off: 3 p.m.
Last Meeting: Nov. 14, 2020, Win 77-73
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The last time Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team squared off against St. Thomas University, it not only saw senior guard Sam Mack Jr. record his season-high for points but it also showed a high level of poise and fortitude in what was a hotly contested matchup that it eventually won.

When the Lions make the two-minute drive over to STU's Fernandez Family Center to face its neighborhood and Sun Conference rivals, they'll go in with the confidence of having knocked off the Bobcats once already this season as it hopes to earn victory Tuesday night.

The game – known as the Battle of Miami Gardens – is set for a 3 p.m. start and will precede the women's game, a bit of a departure from the typical time and order of the conference doubleheaders. The women's game between the teams will start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the men's game.

Also, visiting fans will not be permitted to attend the game per St. Thomas University health and safety guidelines, but the game will be streamed live online and can be viewed free of charge.

Florida Memorial (4-8, 4-4 The Sun Conference) comes into Tuesday's game rested – given it had its Jan. 16th game canceled – but still with a sour taste in its mouth from its loss to Keiser University this past Thursday. Even with Mack scoring a team-high 25 points and holding a lead early in the second half, the Lions couldn't come up with "one last push" in what was a back and forth game that ended with FMU on the wrong side of the final 77-73 margin.

Mack has seemed to find his offensive rhythm recently, recording 23 points or more in three of his past five games, while also shooting just shy of 50 percent from the field in that span. In the first meeting against St. Thomas, Mack put his "swag" on full display – letting out celebratory yells and pounding his chest as he knocked down 5 three-pointers en route to scoring 32 points in 30 minutes of action.

St. Thomas (5-5, 4-4) has been a middling team this season. The Bobcats have essentially alternated results the entire season, most recently being handed a 71-58 loss at the hands of Keiser University.

There's been some shuffling within St. Thomas' lineup, but the team is still led in scoring by 6-foot-8 forward Quinterious Jones. The senior is averaging 13.4 points per game and is one of four Bobcats players contributing double-digit point on a nightly basis. Recent addition Justyn Rogers, who was recently added to the active roster, has played in the team's past three games and has added 12 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in that span.

Tuesday's game will already have a bit of extra spice since both teams are looking to remain in the thick of the Sun Conference race and are natural rivals, but it'll be interesting to see if there is any residual ire between the two teams given the small dust-up that occurred in the first meeting in November that led to the ejection of a pair of St. Thomas players.

Ultimately though, success for FMU head coach Ansar Al-Ameen's team will likely hinge on tangible contributions from his frontcourt players. 7-foot senior Mubashar Ali had a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Bobcats back in November and should be able produce similar results if he can avoid foul trouble.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Mubashar Ali: C/F; 7' 0"; Senior

#12 Sam Mack Jr.: G; 6' 4"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#21 Mubashar Ali
: 7' 0"; Senior
: C/F

#12 Sam Mack Jr.
: 6' 4"; Senior
: G

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#21 Mubashar Ali

#12 Sam Mack Jr.

Players Mentioned

#21 Mubashar Ali

#12 Sam Mack Jr.