FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University men’s and women’s basketball teams will play host to USC Upstate, Wednesday evening (Jan. 24) on Faculty Appreciation Night and Sea of Red Night.

The women’s game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. in the Smith University Center, followed by the men’s contest at 7:30 p.m.

Approximately 175 students take part in intercollegiate athletics at FMU.  For the second year, Patriot seniors have been asked to identify a faculty member that has made an impact on their lives at FMU.  These individuals will be recognized immediately following the women's game at approximately 7:15 p.m.

The faculty members selected by this year's class of seniors are: Travis Knowles (Biology), Dr. Derek Jokisch (Physics), Dr. Wayne King (History), Dr. Barbara Hankinson (Chemistry), Dr. Rebecca Flannagan (English), Dr. Jon Tuttle (English), Dr. Allen Smith (Business), Patrick Rabon        (English), Ted Whisnant (English), Lawrence Anderson (Fine Arts), Dr. Barry O’Brien (Business), Dr. William Ramsey (English), Dr. John Britton (History), Dr. Jacqueline Jones (English), David Sacash (Mass Communications), Dr. Charles Carpenter (Business), Jane Brandis (Education), Dr. Lisa Eargle (Sociology), Dr. Philip Fulmer (Physics), Dr. John Sutton (English), Dr. Tracy Meetze (Education), Dr. Hari Rajagopalan (Business), Dr. Scott Campbell (Business), Dr. Rebecca Lawson (Psychology), and Dr. Bill Whitmire (Mathematics).

The Sea of Red promotion is an idea hatched by the Patriot athletic department this year. One home event is selected for each of the 12 FMU athletic teams and all the members of the other 11 squads attend that contest and cheer on their fellow Patriots.

The Patriot women (5-12, 2-4) have won their last two games, while the USC Upstate women (9-8, 4-2) lead the Peach Belt’s North Division standings. The Francis Marion men are 4-12 overall and 1-5 in the PBC, while the Spartan men (12-5, 4-2) are tied for the division lead.