Men's Basketball 11/17/2021 1:54:00 PM J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

Florida Memorial MBB Looking To Upend Warner University Thursday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (3-3, 1-0) at Warner University Royals (4-1, 1-0)
When: Thursday, November 17, 2021
Where: Warner University, Lake Wales, Fla. | Turner Athletic Center
Tip-off: 7:30 p.m.* (30 minutes following women's game)
Last Meeting: Feb. 6, 2021, Loss 68-83
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: General Admission $5 Adult/$2 Youth (Purchase)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team will be looking to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time this season when it travels to take on Warner University Thursday night in WU's Turner Athletic Center.

Thursday's men's game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start, but it will officially tip-off 30 minutes following the conclusion of the preceding women's basketball game between the programs, which will start at 5:30 p.m.

The Lions (3-3, 1-0 The Sun Conference) enter the midweek matchup having been handed a tough loss at NCAA Division-II foe Lynn University (Fla.) this past Monday. Still, transfer senior Brent Holcombe extended his streak of games scoring at least 20 points to four consecutive games. FMU's offensive punch didn't have as much power earlier this week because senior guard Corey Benton had his toughest outing of the season up to this point – scoring just 5 points on 2-for-9 shooting against Lynn.

When Florida Memorial has looked its best, it has been Holcombe and Benton operating and producing as the offensive centerpieces while getting palpable contributions from two or three other players – typically being some combination of forward Jacobi Gordon, freshman guard Carington Campbell, and freshman guard Gary Adams.

It'll be interesting to see how Lions head coach Ansar Al-Ameen handles his frontcourt rotation moving forward as his team recently welcomed back 7-foot center Mubashar Ali to the active roster. Ali missed the first part of the season due to an undisclosed personal matter but was activated following the game at Lynn and could return to FMU's lineup as early as Thursday.

Adding Ali, an All-Sun Conference First Team performer in each of the past two seasons that led the team in points and rebounds, could give the Lions one of most physically imposing frontcourts – with the 7-foot Ali and 6-foot-9 Holcombe – in the conference. It should also add to the team's depth and allow Al-Ameen tinker with lineups based on matchups.

Even if Ali is available Thursday, the Lions will have their work cut out for them trying to upend Warner University.

The Royals (4-1, 1-0), who were voted to finish as the No. 1 team in the Sun Conference in the preseason poll, have looked as strong as expected through the early parts of the season. WU won its first TSC game of the season this past Monday at Webber International and received votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 National Men's Basketball poll.

Four different Warner players are averaging 10 points or more, led by Darryl Mercer's 18.2 points per contest. A sharpshooter, Mercer hurt the Lions in the team's two meetings this past season – racking up 26 points in the two games.

Success for Florida Memorial will mean it was able to limit Mercer and the Royals' other quick guards while getting game-changing contributions from its own guards.

Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMU_MBB | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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