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Men's Basketball J.T. Wilcox, Sports Information Director

Lions MBB Return To Court, Hosting Southeastern Thursday

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (8-4, 4-1) vs. Southeastern University Fire (13-3, 4-1)
When: Thursday, January 6, 2022
Where: Florida Memorial, Miami Gardens, Fla. | FMU Wellness Center
Tip-off: 6 p.m.
Last Meeting: Jan. 30, 2021, Win 65-52
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link
Tickets: General Admission $5 (Purchase)
 
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Florida Memorial University will take the court for the first time during the 2022 calendar year this week when it hosts Sun Conference foe Southeastern University this night at 6 p.m. in the FMU Wellness Center.
 
Thursday's game will be a stand-alone men's contest between the programs because FMU's women's team went into health and safety protocols earlier this week and had its game – which was scheduled to precede the men's game – postponed and rescheduled for January 18.
 
About The Lions
  • FMU enters the game sporting an undefeated home record (5-0) so far this season.
  • Florida Memorial ended up having a three-week layoff since it last played on December 15th against Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Oh.) – picking up a 75-70 victory.
  • The Lions had their Dec. 30 game against Edward Waters cancelled for health and safety reasons.
  • FMU received a big game from 6-foot-9 transfer senior Brent Holcombe against Mount Vernon, seeing the Miami, Florida native lead all scorers with 21 points while also adding 6 rebounds.
  • With its win over the Cougars, Florida Memorial has won its past three regular season games and is enjoying the best start to a season under head coach Ansar Al-Ameen with its 8-4 record.
  • The Lions' strong start has also included them building an 4-1 record against Sun Conference opponents – also the best five-game stretch under Al-Ameen.
  • Holcombe and senior guard Corey Benton continue to be FMU's top two scorers this season, averaging 13.7 and 15.1 points per game respectively.
  • The extended break should also pay dividends for the Lions in the form of mending time of 7-foot senior center Mubashar Ali, who missed time during December with a lower extremity injury.
  • FMU currently sits tied with Southeastern and Warner University for the top spot in the Sun Conference standings – all at 4-1.
 
Scouting Southeastern
  • Southeastern enters Thursday game as winners of its past two games and six of its past seven overall.
  • The Fire last played on Dec. 22 – a 78-57 win over Spring Arbor University (Mich.).
  • Thursday's game will be the SEU's first road contest in over a month.
  • SEU leads the Sun Conference scoring offense (85.4 PPG) while ranking second in scoring defense (70 PAPG) – giving them a conference-best mark for scoring margin of 15.4.
  • The Fire are led by 6-foot-7 junior wing Riley Minix, whose 23.3 points per game not only leads his team but also leads the conference.
  • Minix missed much of the 2020-21 season with an injury but has returned and has reestablished himself as one of the premier players in the Sun Conference, scoring at least 15 points in all but one of his team's games up to this point in the season.
  • SEU is coached by Kevin Lubbers, a former TSC Coach of the Year Award winner and who has led the Fire to a regular season and conference tournament title during his three-year tenure.
 
Series History
  • Florida Memorial trails the all-time series against Southeastern University 7-9.
  • The Lions have won the past three meetings against SEU, including two wins on the Fire's home floor.
  • FMU is 3-5 against Southeastern at home.
 
Keys To Victory
  • Florida Memorial's focus will be slowing down Minix. Because of his ability to score at all three levels (perimeter, mid-range, and around the rim), Minix can bend defenses. He's also a productive rebounder, so it'll be key that the Lions not only keep a body in front of him when the ball is in his hands but also have someone boxing him out when the ball is on the rim.
  • The Lions' ball security and shot selection will also be key because they cannot afford to surrender extra possessions to a team as offensively potent as Southeastern.
 
Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMU_MBB | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU Lions
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Players Mentioned

Mubashar Ali

#21 Mubashar Ali

C
7' 0"
Senior
Corey Benton

#44 Corey Benton

G
6' 2"
Senior
Brent Holcombe

#23 Brent Holcombe

F
6' 8"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Mubashar Ali

#21 Mubashar Ali

7' 0"
Senior
C
Corey Benton

#44 Corey Benton

6' 2"
Senior
G
Brent Holcombe

#23 Brent Holcombe

6' 8"
Graduate Student
F