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Charles Bethel Jr.

Men's Basketball J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

FMU Men Hope To Remain Unbeaten At Home, Host Thomas University Thursday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (3-6, 3-3) vs. Thomas University Night Hawks (2-9, 2-3)
When: Thursday, January 7, 2021
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 8 p.m.* (30 minutes following women's game)
Last Meeting: Feb. 15, 2020, Win 81-60
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Like the famous words of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, "there's no place like home".
 
Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team has won both of its home games this season and will be looking to make it a third in a row when it hosts Thomas University Thursday night in the FMU Wellness Center.
 
The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. start, but it will officially tip-off 30 minutes following the conclusion of the preceding women's game. Under current Florida Memorial University safety protocols, no fans will be allowed to attend. But the game will be streamed live online – via Black College Sports Network (BCSN) – and can be viewed for free.
 
FMU (3-5, 3-3 The Sun Conference) enters Thursday game having dropped its January 4th makeup game at Keiser University. Though the Lions out-rebounded the Seahawks and shot better from the field, they were hampered by a 21-turnover night, which led to 20 points.
 
Still, Florida Memorial head coach Ansar Al-Ameen saw a slither of silver lining in – what he hopes will be – the breakout performance of sophomore guard Muhammad Gilchrist. The College Park, Maryland native finished with a team-high 20 points on a super-efficient 6-of-8 from the field, 5-of-7 from three-point range, and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
 
Al-Ameen spoke to Gilchrist's potential earlier this season, saying he could be a major contributor to the team, but prior to this past Monday's game his season high was 6 points back in November.
 
If things have come together for Gilchrist, it'll only bolster the Lions' backcourt – which has been inconsistent in its offensive production up to this point in the season.
 
Coming to The Lions' Den Thursday will be a Thomas University team that's endured a rough 2020-21 season so far. The Night Hawks (2-9, 2-3) are currently riding a five losing streak and haven't played a counting game in over a month. To its credit, five of Thomas' losses have been by just six point or less.
 
The Night Hawks led by 5-foot-9 junior guard Jordan Brooks, who's turning in 15.3 points and 5.4 assists per game this season while also leading his team in total steals.
 
While Florida Memorial will carry its typical height advantage into Thursday's game, it'll be interesting to see if the Lions will be able to leverage their size and win the rebound battle – something that they struggled to do earlier this season but has shown signs of improvement in, having out-rebounded its past three opponents.
 
The other factor that'll loom large for FMU is its ability to take care of the basketball. Turnovers – both live and dead ball – have been a bane to the Lions this season (19 per game) and they'll need to curtail those mistakes against Thomas University Thursday.
 
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Players Mentioned

Muhammad Gilchrist

#0 Muhammad Gilchrist

G
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Muhammad Gilchrist

#0 Muhammad Gilchrist

6' 1"
Sophomore
G