Lions Look To Topple Warner University Saturday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (6-13, 6-10) at (RV) Warner University Royals (14-3, 12-3)
When: Saturday, February 6, 2021
Where: Warner University, Lake Wales, Fla. | Turner Athletic Center
Tip-off: 4 p.m.* (30 minutes following women's game)
Last Meeting: Jan. 26, 2021, Loss 78-85
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University's men's basketball team could earn what would be a "statement win" when it travels to face Warner University Saturday afternoon in WU's Turner Athletic Center.

If the Lions are able to topple the Royals, who received votes in the latest national NAIA men's basketball poll, it would enable them to avoid the regular season sweep against Warner and hand the Sun Conference's No. 1 team its first loss on its home floor this season.

Saturday's game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start but it will actually tip-off 30 minutes following the conclusion of the preceding women's basketball game between the programs. No visiting fans will be allowed to attend the game per Warner University health and safety protocols. The game, however, will be streamed live online and can be viewed for free.

Florida Memorial (6-13, 6-10 The Sun Conference) enters Saturday's game having dropped a tough game to Ave Maria University this past Thursday. A too familiar hindrance – turnovers – tripped up the Lions as they shot nearly identical percentages and out-rebounded the Gyrenes but still fell 98-87.

7-foot senior center Mubashar Ali recorded his 10th double-double of the season – leading the team with 24 points and 12 boards – as four total Lions had double digit point totals. It was ultimately the 20 turnovers – that led to 21 Ave Maria points – that sank FMU.

It also didn't help that 7-foot-2 freshman center Nicodemo Majuec, playing in just his second game with the team, was saddled with foul trouble and ended up going scoreless in just eight minutes on the floor. Lions head coach Ansar Al-Ameen did welcome 6-foot-10 graduate transfer Jethro Tshisumpa to the lineup this past Thursday, and he gave FMU 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 15 minutes of action, but his lack of on-court chemistry with the team showed.

The last time Florida Memorial faced the Royals, the Lions stood toe-to-toe with them and played spirited basketball to the end of a hard-fought 85-78 overtime loss. FMU's undoing in that game was its inability to knock down shots – shooting 43 percent from the field and 27 percent from three-point range.

Saturday's game will be the first of the meetings between the Royals and Lions that Majuec and Tshisumpa are available and both have the physical tools to be game-altering presences. One of the keys to FMU's success Saturday will be its ability to defend Warner's high-scoring guard Rod Boggan, who's averaging 18.1 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the three-point line.

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Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMU_MBB | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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Players Mentioned

#21 Mubashar Ali: C/F; 7' 0"; Senior

#24 Nicodemo Majuec: C; 7' 2"; Freshman

#42 Jethro Tshisumpa: F; 6' 10"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#21 Mubashar Ali
: 7' 0"; Senior
: C/F

#24 Nicodemo Majuec
: 7' 2"; Freshman
: C

#42 Jethro Tshisumpa
: 6' 10"; Graduate Student
: F

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#21 Mubashar Ali

#24 Nicodemo Majuec

#42 Jethro Tshisumpa

Players Mentioned

#21 Mubashar Ali

#24 Nicodemo Majuec

#42 Jethro Tshisumpa