FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University men’s and women’s basketball teams will host a pair of nationally ranked USC Aiken squads for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader on Wednesday evening (Jan. 9).

The twinbill, sponsored by Moe’s Southwest Grill, will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. with the women’s game, followed by the men’s contest at 7:30 p.m.  Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students.

Both games can be heard on the internet at www.fmarion.edu/sports/ with Allen Smothers handling the play-by-play.

The Francis Marion women, 9-1 overall and tied for second in the PBC with a 2-1 mark, will face a USCA (8-2, 2-2) squad that is ranked 23rd in the latest NCAA Division II poll. The Patriots, who were 6-22 last season, are now among a list of other schools receiving votes for the national poll.

The Patriot woman continue to lead Division II in scoring offense (95.9 points per game) and steals per game (22.8). This despite the fact that no FMU player is ranked among the top 200 scorers in the nation. The Patriots have seven players averaging between eight and 14 points per game, led by senior guard Brittany Young (13.6 ppg). Junior point guard Kevina Ransom, who set a Patriot single-game record with 11 steals on Sunday against Columbus State University, leads all Division II players with a 5.3 steals per game average.

USCA leads the country in assists per game, while Francis Marion is ranked eighth. FMU leads the all-time series 39-17 and has won the past four meetings in Florence. However, the Patriot women have lost their last 14 games against nationally ranked opponents.

The Francis Marion men (7-3, 1-2) will be after their 500th all-time win while facing a Pacer squad that is 10-1 overall, the lone unbeaten men’s team in the PBC (4-0), and ranked eighth in the latest national poll.

Junior guard Houston Power (12.1 ppg) and junior forward Sam Smith (11.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg) lead four FMU players averaging in double digits.   Francis Marion’s first-ever win came on Dec. 7, 1970 against the UNC Wilmington freshmen squad. Forty of FMU’s 499 victories have come against the Pacers, tied for the most against any one opponent. The Patriots have won each of the past 11 meetings between the two programs dating back to the 2001-02 season.

USCA is led by 6-8 junior forward Chris Commons who is second in the nation in scoring at 24.5 ppg.

Moe’s Southwest Grill is located near Five Points at the Florence Mall (1940-A Hoffmeyer Road).