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Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

FMU player
66
Florida Memorial FMU 17-11
77
Winner Faulkner FLK 25-6
Florida Memorial FMU
17-11
66
Final
77
Faulkner FLK
25-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Florida Memorial FMU 32 34 66
Faulkner FLK 33 44 77

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

13-Seed Lions MBB Falls To 4-Seed Faulkner In Opening Round Of NAIA National Championship Tournament

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The clock struck 12 on what had become a "Cinderella" season for Florida Memorial University as the 13-seed Lions couldn't come up with enough winning plays down the stretch – losing a seven-point second-half lead and ultimately falling 77-66 to 4-seed Faulkner University Friday night in the opening round of the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament in FU's Tine W. Davis Gymnasium.
 
FMU (17-11), the 2022 Sun Conference Tournament champion, was making its third-ever appearance in the NAIA national tourney Friday but couldn't advance to the second round – where Faulkner (25-6) will take on 12-seed Huntington University (Ind.) Saturday evening.
 
How It Happened
  • After trailing by one (33-32) at halftime, the Lions built a 47-40 lead not even six minutes into the second half after Gary Adams completed a three-point play with a good free throw.
  • FMU kept Faulkner at an arm's distance over the next three minutes – regaining its seven-point lead (51-44) after an Aubrey Washington three-pointer with 11:19 left to play.
  • Senior guard and team leading scorer Corey Benton picked up his fourth foul with 18:04 left in the second half and didn't re-enter until the 8:01 mark.
  • The Eagles quickly erased Florida Memorial's seven-point lead with back-to-back possessions resulting in three points – first an old fashioned one on an and-one followed by a elbow three-pointer to make it a 51-50 game.
  • Faulkner would end up going on a 13-2 run – taking a 57-53 lead – and building on the momentum it got from a put-back dunk and took control of the game down the stretch.
  • Faulkner won the rebound battle, totaling 48 rebounds (21 offensive) compared to just 32 for the Lions.
  • Down the stretch, FMU was unable to get the same production from the offensive option that had been working for it throughout – getting the ball to 6-foot-9 forward Brent Holcombe in the post.
  • After FU took the lead, the Lions would get as close as 58-60 with 6:25 left in the second half.
  • Florida Memorial went 4-for-10 from the field over the remainder of the game as the Eagles' lead grew to the final 11-point margin.
 
Inside The Box Score
  • Holcombe led FMU with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds while playing 39 minutes.
  • Senior Aubrey Washington was the only other Lions player to finish with double-digit points – he totaled 13 points.
  • Washington also knocked down a team-high 3 three-pointers.
  • Benton was limited to 26 minutes of action and finished with 9 points and a game-high 5 assists.
  • Florida Memorial was out-rebounded 48-32, including a 21-7 difference in offensive rebounds.
  • The Lions also committed 17 turnovers while FU had 11.
  • Four Eagles players finished in double figures, led by C.J. Hines' 23 points.
  • Cheikh Kebe finished with game-high 4 blocks Friday.
  • FMU shot 46.6 percent (27-for-58) from the field but just 26.1 percent (6-for-23) from three-point range.
 
Analysis & Notes
  • The Lions lost the battle on the backboards despite having towering height advantages across the frontline against the Eagles.
  • Benton picking up his fourth foul not even two minutes into the second half hurt FMU's offense, as he can create and make his own shots while also creating shots for teammates.
  • FMU felt the void of not getting tangible contributions from senior guard Eric Hester, who finished with 4 points in 31 minutes of action.
  • Faulkner seemed to get sparked by Trace Hill's put-back dunk, which made it 53-52 game with 9:08 left.
  • Friday's loss was the Lions' second to Faulkner this season.
  • Florida Memorial head coach set a new career-high for wins in a season while also earning his first conference championship and leading the team to the national tournament.
  • The Lions won their second-ever men's basketball conference title this season.
  • FMU ends the season 17-11.
  • Faulkner, which was ranked No. 15 in the final NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll, improves to 25-6.
 
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