CALDWELL, Idaho | Florida Memorial University's season comes to an end with a 63-60 loss to Friends University in the first round of the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament.

The contest was tied 27 apiece at halftime in a back-and-forth affair. The Lions finished with 32 points in the paint compared to just 20 from the Falcons. In addition, FMU controlled the glass, winning the rebound battle 46 to 35.

The Lions were led by junior guard Calvin Payton, who finished with a team-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, including six 3-pointers. He also grabbed six boards and dished out two assists while graduate student Felix Uadiale generated 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal in his last game in a Lions uniform.

2024-25 SUN Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year Latavious Mitchell was held to just six points but finished with 11 rebounds. The First-Team All-SUN honoree also added four assists, three blocks and two steals, but finished with five turnovers in the loss.

Overall, FMU shot just five free throws all night while Friends had 17 attempts from the charity stripe.

Florida Memorial University finishes the season 23-8 overall and 12-4 SUN Conference play. Second-year head coach Delano Thomas currently boasts a 3-1 record overall in the SUN Conference Tournament, including a 2023-24 SUN Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship.