Lions MBB Ready For Tough Stretch, Beginning Thursday Against Thomas University

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (5-4, 2-1) vs. Thomas University Night Hawks (6-6, 1-2)
When: Thursday, December 1, 2021
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 8 p.m.* (30 minutes following women's game)
Last Meeting: Feb. 13, 2021, Loss 56-79
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: General Admission $5 (Purchase)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University will be looking to get the taste of victory once again when it hosts Thomas University Thursday night in the FMU Wellness Center.

While the Lions are scheduled to take the floor at 8 p.m., Thursday's men's game will officially tip 30 minutes following the conclusion of the preceding women's game between the programs.

Fans can purchase tickets – for either or both games – online at www.FMUAthletics.com/Tickets or buy them at the Wellness Center ticket window on game day. General admission tickets start at $5 dollars while current FMU students will receive free admission with proof of a valid student ID.

Florida Memorial will be looking to shake of a couple of less-than-ideal performances heading into Thursday's conference matchup. The Lions were upended by Arizona Christian University this past Wednesday during the second day of the two-day Keiser Holiday Classic and was outpaced by NCAA Division-II opponent Barry University (Fla.) in a non-counting exhibition this past Saturday (Nov. 27.).

Even though only one of those games were appended to FMU's record, head coach Ansar Al-Ameen is still looking for his team to show a bit of hunger that a team would show after consecutive performances like those.

What should help Florida Memorial (5-4, 2-1 The Sun Conference) look better as it tries to remain unbeaten at home this season and extend its win streak to three straight on the Wellness Center floor is the continued to progression of 7-foot senior center Mubashar Ali.

Ali missed the first five games of the season but has seen his level of play steadily increase over the past four, recording two double-doubles in that span and already bringing his per-game average for rebounds to nearly 10 a game while also averaging 10.5 points per contest.

With Ali returning to form, FMU's frontcourt becomes one of the most potent groups in the conference with the 7-footer working alongside 6-foot-8 forward Brent Holcombe and 6-foot-9 wing Cheikh Kebe.

In Thomas University, the Lions are welcoming in a team that has had an up-and-down season through the first 12. The Night Hawks (6-6, 1-2) won five of their first seven games of the season but then dropped four of the next five, including a 84-75 loss to Faulkner University (Ala.) this past Monday.

TU has been buoyed by guard Tim Williamson. Even though the 6-foot-4 senior has only started in game for the Night Hawks this season, he leads the team in points and rebounds per game.

Florida Memorial will need to leverage its height advantage and win the battle on the backboard – as it has for much of this season – but the true determining factor will be the play of its guards.

Transfer senior guard Corey Benton leads the Lions in scoring this season (14.3 PPG) but went scoreless in the game against ACU – and had a tough outing in the exhibition against Barry. Anfernee King has served as Benton's running mate in the backcourt recently, but Al-Ameen is still looking for consistent production from the junior and just flashes.

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