FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University men’s and women’s basketball teams will open Peach Belt Conference play when they play host to Georgia College & State University, Saturday afternoon (Nov. 30)

The women’s game will tip-off at 2 p.m. in the Smith University Center, followed by the men’s contest at 4 p.m.

The Patriot women (2-1) are led in scoring and rebounding by senior 6-0 center Jontell Johnson (19.3 ppg, 12 rpg).  GC&SU (2-1) is led by 5-10 senior guard-forward Andrea Lee (20 ppg, 5 rpg).

FMU was picked to finished ninth in the PBC preseason coaches’ poll, while GC&SU, last year’s PBC Tournament champion, was tabbed for fifth. Francis Marion leads the all-time series 12-8 after sweeping a pair of games from the Lady Bobcats last season.

The FMU men (0-2) will be looking for their first win of the 2002-03 season, while GC&SU is 2-0.  Juniors Randy Williams (18.5 ppg, 13 rpg) and Jaquan Bracey (16.5 ppg, 14 rpg) both registered double-doubles in Francis Marion’s first two contests.  The GC&SU attack is paced by senior 6-0 guard Rodney Keener (18 ppg) and 6-7 junior center Daryl Ruffus (12 ppg, 10 rpg).

The Patriot men were picked to place 11th in the preseason PBC coaches’ poll, while GC&SU was picked fourth.  The Bobcats lead the all-time series 13-5.

In last year’s meeting in Florence, the GC&SU men set numerous records by canning 21 of 32 three-point field goal attempts en route to a 96-74 win.

#63/11-27-02