New Look FMU Hopes To Avenge Loss Against Ave Maria Thursday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (6-12, 6-9) vs. Ave Maria University Gyrenes (15-8, 9-5)
When: Thursday, February 4, 2021
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 8 p.m.* (30 minutes following women's game)
Last Meeting: Jan. 23, 2021, Loss 65-76
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team, easily the tallest team in The Sun Conference, recently added another 7-footer to its lineup and it paid immediate dividends; and it hopes its added height will once make the difference as it prepares to host Ave Maria University Thursday night in the FMU Wellness Center.

Thursday's game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. start, but it will officially tip-off 30 minutes following the preceding women's game as it's the nightcap of a typical conference women-men doubleheader between the programs. Fans will be prohibited from attending the game inside the Lions' Den due to University health and safety protocols. The game will be streamed live online and can be viewed for free.

Florida Memorial (6-12, 6-9 The Sun Conference) welcomed 7-foot-2 freshman Nicodemo Majuec not only to the active roster but instantly to the starting lineup in their game against Southeastern this past Saturday. Majuec joined 7-foot Mubashar Ali and 6-foot-9 Cheikh Kebe in the frontcourt for the Lions and made it difficult for the Fire to score in the paint – evident by the Lions allowing just 12 points in the paint.

Majuec also recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in his first game in a Lions uniform while playing 31 minutes. Ali thrived sharing the floor with another 7-footer as he led all scorers with 20 points while also grabbing a game-high 17 boards.

Having the extra length inside also meant Florida Memorial's shooters had extra breathing room on their outside shots as Southeastern tried to pack the paint in attempt to guard Ali and Majuec. The Lions ended up knocking down 10 of their 23 three-pointers, with three coming from each Terence Clayton and Aubrey Washington.

In facing Ave Maria, the Lions will be taking on the No. 2 team in the Sun Conference standings and the team that has handed the Lions losses in their previous two meetings this season.

While both meetings were close, the Gyrenes (15-8, 9-5) were able to sink the Lions because of their ability to knock down outside shots. Ave Maria has made just under 43 percent (21-49) of its three-pointers in the two games against FMU, potentially creating an interesting contrast of styles.

If Florida Memorial head coach Ansar Al-Ameen chooses to primarily play Majuec next to Ali – and Kebe – it would be a definite deterrent for the Gyrenes when it comes to attacking the basket. However, it would mean Ave Maria would have more room to launch shots for long range. Of Southeastern's 60 shot attempts this past weekend, 30 were three-pointers. Granted, the Fire only made six out of those 30, but percentages would suggest that Ave Maria would shoot better than Southeastern did – especially since the Gyrenes have the third-best three-point shooter in the Sun Conference in Eric Klekas, who's shooting 42 percent from three-point range this season.

The play of FMU's guards – on both ends of the floor – will loom large in Thursday's game. Clayton, Washington, and Muhammad Gilchrist will need to knock down timely shots while running Ave Maria's shooters off the perimeter and funneling them inside to the long arms of Ali, Mujuec, and Kebe.

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