Florida Memorial MBB Set To Host Mount Vernon Nazarene University Wednesday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (7-4) vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars (9-4)
When: Wednesday, December 14, 2021
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 7 p.m.
Last Meeting: Dec. 12, 2018, Loss 62-74
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: General Admission $5 (Purchase)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – With the holiday break around the corner, Florida Memorial University will be looking to make it a "holly jolly time" when it hosts Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Oh.) Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the FMU Wellness Center.

About The Lions

FMU enters Wednesday as a rested group, having last played on December 8th, in a non-counting exhibition against NCAA Division-II opponent Nova Southeastern University (Fla.).
Prior to the exhibition, Florida Memorial had picked up back-to-back conference wins against Thomas University (Ga.) and College of Coastal Georgia – improving to 4-1 in the Sun Conference standings and solidifying the best five-game start to the conference schedule under head coach Ansar Al-Ameen.
The Lions have been buoyed by senior guard Corey Benton, a former NAIA All-American performer at his previous institution, as he's turning in 15.6 points along with 4 assists per game.
Al-Ameen has seen his team's turnover numbers improve recently, as Florida Memorial total number of turnovers has dwindled in each of the past three games – including committing just 3 turnovers against CCGA.
While Benton and Brent Holcombe (13 PPG and 6.4 RPG) have been stalwarts, FMU is biding its time as 7-foot senior center Mubashar Ali – a two-time All-Sun Conference First Team selection – continues to find his rhythm after missing half of the season's games.

Scouting Mount Vernon Nazarene

The Cougars enter Wednesday's game with a record 9-4 and will have had four days off before making its way to South Florida from Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Mount Vernon Nazarene opened the season on a six-game winning streak before going 3-4 over its next seven games.
MVNU head coach Jared Ronai is in his eighth season leading the team and has led the team to 18 or more wins in six of the previous seven seasons.
Four different Cougars' players average 10 or more points per game this season, led by Kade Ruegsegger's 14.2 points per contest.
6-foot-10 junior forward Kyle Kegley leads the team with 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game this season while also contributing 12.5 points.
Mount Vernon Nazarene has been a solid three-point shooting team this season, averaging nine made buckets from long range per game this season on a 37 percent clip.
The Cougars will play two games while in the Sunshine State, as they will play at Keiser University on December 16th.

Series History

Mount Vernon Nazarene won the one previous meeting between the programs, a 74-62 Mount Vernon Nazarene win in 2018 on the Lions' home floor.
Only one player who appeared in that 2018 contest remains from either team's roster – Cougars senior guard Eddie Driskell.

Keys To Victory

Florida Memorial will need to play a clean brand of basketball, limiting unforced errors that lead to turnovers.
The Lions must use its size and athleticism around the basket and out on the perimeter – chiefly 6-foot-10 center Jethro Tshisumpa and 6-foot-9 forward Chiekh Kebe – to create advantages.

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

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