Claflin Men’s Basketball Look to Avenge an Early Season Loss to Francis Marion

Orangeburg, S.C.–The Claflin University men’s basketball team will look to avenge an early season loss Monday (Feb. 13) when they visit Francis Marion University in a NCAA Division II non-conference men’s basketball game.

The contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Smith University Center where the Patriots are 6-6 this season.

Claflin fell to Francis Marion in its season opener, 73-71, in Orangeburg on Nov. 15.  In the contest, the Patriots needed a free throw from Detrek Browning with 2.1 seconds left and a game-winning miss shot by the Panthers point guard Triston Thompson to pull out the victory.

Since the loss, Claflin has won 15 games for a 15-6 record this season.

As for Francis Marion, the Patriots are 8-15 on the season and 4-8 in their last 12 games.

Francis Marion leads the overall series at 12-4.

Both teams are averaging about the same offensively, with Claflin scoring 76.7 points and while Francis Marion is at 75.

The Panther are led by senior wingman Ryan McNeill-Moses at 12.9 points and 5.7 rebounds. Red-shirt sophomore Austin Lawton is averaging 10.9 points with a team-high 52 blocked shots for the Panthers.

Francis Marion also has two players scoring in double-figures with Browning leading the way with 19.2 points. He is followed by Judah Alexander at 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds.

Following the matchup against Francis Marion, Claflin will turn its attention to arch-rival and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Benedict College Tuesday (Feb. 15). The contest will follow the women’s game at approximately 7:30 p.m.