Lions Looking To Get Back On Track Thursday At Webber International

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (5-11, 5-8) at Webber International University Warriors (8-14, 4-8)
When: Thursday, January 28, 2021
Where: Webber International, Babson Park, Fla. | Sabbagh Athletic Center
Tip-off: 7:30* (30 minutes following women's game)
Last Meeting: Dec. 5, 2020, Win 68-65
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team will be hoping to finally be rewarded for playing a solid brand of basketball when it travels to face Webber International University Thursday night in the Sabbagh Athletic Center.

While scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start, the men's game will actually tip-off 30 minutes following the conclusion of the preceding women's game as it is the nightcap in the women-men doubleheader. Also, visiting fans will not be allowed to attend the game per Webber International University health and safety protocols. The game will be able to be viewed on a free online live stream.

FMU (5-11, 5-8 The Sun Conference) enters Thursday's game with a bittersweet taste in its mouth following its 85-78 overtime loss Tuesday night against Warner University.

The slight sweet coming from the fact that the Lions stood toe-to-toe with the Sun Conference's No. 1 team, holding multiple leads throughout the second half and even having a shot to win at the end of regulation. The bitter was part was – naturally – the end result, but what stung the Lions worse was the fact that it once again had all of the positive things that it did undone by a below-average shooting night. For the third-straight game, Florida Memorial shot below 43 percent from the field and below 28 percent from three-point range while its opponent shot better than 48 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range.

FMU head coach Ansar Al-Ameen did see his 7-foot center Mubashar Ali record a new season-high point total this past Tuesday, finishing with 31 points. Ali and Cheikh Kebe (19 points) were the only two Lions to finish with double-digit points Tuesday.

Al-Ameen will need all of his players to pick up their offensive production as the roster has been trimmed due to the typical attrition – injuries and other extenuating factors – leaving scoring voids, especially in the backcourt.

In Webber International, FMU will be facing a team that's been a tough team to peg recently. The Warriors (8-14, 4-8) pulled a 79-75 upset on Warner University a week ago but followed that up with a two-point loss at Thomas University.

The Lions won the first meeting between the teams this season – an ugly 68-65 game – where senior guard Aubrey Washington led all scorers with 23 points, his season-high. Ali struggled to find his shooting touch in that game – finishing with just 8 points on 3-of-10 shooting – but pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds.

Webber International can play a very contrived style of basketball, having to manufacture – rather than naturally score – points while also making it difficult on opponents to score – evident by it ranking last in the Sun Conference in scoring offense (69.4 PPG) while ranking No. 4 in scoring defense (73.2 PA PPG).

Kebe's ability to exploit the natural mismatch he creates, as a 6-foot-9 forward that can score on the perimeter and in the paint, will be huge for the Lions' success Thursday as will the ability of one of FMU's guards – Washington, Terence Clayton, or Muhammad Gilchrist – to knock down shots and give FMU an outside option to complement Ali in the post.

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