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Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

FMU players
Charles Bethel Jr.
98
Winner Ave Maria University AMUM 16-8, 10-5 TSC
87
Florida Memorial University FMUM 6-13, 6-10 TSC
Winner
Ave Maria University AMUM
16-8, 10-5 TSC
98
Final
87
Florida Memorial University FMUM
6-13, 6-10 TSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Ave Maria University AMUM 43 55 98
Florida Memorial University FMUM 40 47 87

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

Turnovers Trip Up FMU, Lions Fall To Ave Maria Thursday

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – In spite of having one of its best shooting nights this season, Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team couldn't overcome its turnovers and ultimately fell to visiting Ave Maria University 98-87 Thursday night in the FMU Wellness Center.
 
The Lions shot 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range but gave away the ball 20 times – leading to 21 points for the Gyrenes.
 
Still, even saddled with the turnovers, FMU had a bite at the victory apple. The Lions clawed its way back into the game from a 74-64 deficit, going on an 11-2 run to pull within one (76-75) with just under five minutes to play in the second half. Ave Maria quickly pushed its lead back to four with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession and extended it again on the next play – getting a breakaway dunk thanks to a Lions turnover.
 
Time dwindled and FMU's late three-pointers couldn't find the bottom of the net, forcing the Lions to intentionally foul the Gyrenes. Ave Maria sank eight straight free throws down the stretch as the final margin grew to 98-87.
 
Four Lions finished with double-digit points Thursday, led by senior Mubashar Ali's 24 points and 12 rebounds – marking his 10th double-double of the season. Cheikh Kebe and Terence Clayton each finished with 12 points while Muhammad Gilchrist added 11 points in 15 minutes off the bench.
 
Florida Memorial head coach Ansar Al-Ameen did employ the same "twin tower" lineup that was successful against Southeastern this past weekend – starting 7-foot freshman Nicodemo Majuec next to the 7-foot Ali – but Majuec was saddled with foul trouble throughout and ended up scoreless and collected just 1 rebound in 8 minutes of action.
 
Thursday was the first game that graduate transfer Jethro Tshisumpa was active for the Lions. A 6-foot-10 native of the Democratic Republic of Congo and former ESPN Top 100 high school player in 2016, Tshisumpa graduated from Texas Southern University – after spending time at Arizona State and Mississippi State – and elected to finish his career with the Lions. Tshisumpa (pronounced Ta-shum-pa) finished with 8 points, 2 rebounds and 2 blocks in 15 minutes.
 
Turnovers truly hamstrung the Lions (6-13, 6-10 The Sun Conference); Ave Maria shot nearly identical percentages from the field (49 percent) and three-point line (40 percent) but the Gyrenes (16-8, 10-5) only turnover the ball over nine times.
 
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