FMU Hoping To Stop Skid, Travels To Coastal Georgia Thursday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (6-14, 6-11) at College of Coastal Georgia Mariners (10-9, 8-8)
When: Thursday, February 10, 2021
Where: Coastal Georgia, Brunswick, Ga. | Goffin Gym
Tip-off: 7:30 p.m.* (30 minutes following women's game)
Last Meeting: Jan. 9, 2021, Win 81-71
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team will be looking to put its foot in the ground and make a change in direction Thursday as it hopes to snap a two-game losing streak and take a big step in securing its spot in the Sun Conference postseason tournament when it takes on host College of Coastal Georgia.

Though the game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start, the teams won't take the floor until 30 minutes following the conclusion of the preceding women's basketball game between the programs. Also, visiting fans will not be permitted to attend the game inside CCGA's Coffin Gymnasium, but can view the game via the Mariners' free online live stream.

Even though Florida Memorial (6-14, 6-11 The Sun Conference) dropped its previous two games, it currently sits in the No. 7 spot in the conference standings – within the now-8-team range of teams that will make the postseason tournament. However, the Lions hold a 1-game lead on No. 8 team Webber International and 2-game lead on 9-seed Southeastern University with three games remaining.

The Lions will be looking to get the taste of their 83-68 loss at No. 23 Warner University out of their mouths. Two familiar banes hamstrung FMU in against the Royals – cold shooting and turnovers. The team committed 20 turnovers for the seventh time this season and shot just 17 percent from three-point range.

6-foot-10 graduate transfer Jethro Tshisumpa tied with 7-foot senior Mubashar Ali for the team high point total (14) while the pair also combined for 19 rebounds. Unfortunately, the two were the only ones to finish with double figure points as the team saw its seven-point first-half lead turn into a five-point deficit then saw that halftime deficit grow to as large as 24.

While FMU head coach Ansar Al-Ameen continues to work Tshisumpa and 7-foot-2 freshman Nicodemo Majuec into the team's chemistry, he could also be working senior guard Sam Mack Jr. back into the rotation Thursday. Mack, the team's leading scorer this season, missed the past five games due to undisclosed personal reasons, but returns to the Lions' lineup at an auspicious time.

Mack scored 29 points and set season highs in multiple categories in FMU's first meeting with Coastal Georgia – an 81-71 victory – and the Lions played one of their best games of the season.

The Mariners (10-9, 8-8) enters Thursday's game on a two-game winning streak, having defeated Southeastern and Webber International. Coastal Georgia remains a balanced scoring team – with four players averaging 10 points or more – but it'll be interesting to see how it tries to operate offensively with the Lions' length – especially when Al-Ameen elects to play Majuec alongside Ali, or Tshisumpa, and uses 6-foot-9 Cheikh Kebe as a wing defender.

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