FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University men's basketball team will play in the opening round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament on Wednesday afternoon (March 1), while the Patriot women will play in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The five-day event will be hosted by Lander University in its 2,500-seat Finis Horne Arena. Tournament action can be followed at www.peachbelt.com
The 12-15 Patriot men enter the tournament as the seventh seed and will play 10th-seeded UNC Pembroke (4-23) in a first-round game on Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. The winner of Wednesday's contest will advance to meet second-seeded Georgia College & State University (19-7) in a quarterfinal game, Friday at 1 p.m.
FMU beat the Braves twice this season, 78-61 in Florence and 73-71 last week in Pembroke. UNCP leads the all-time series 31-21, but the Francis Marion has won seven of the last eight meetings.
FMU is 4-12 in its 12 previous Peach Belt Tournament appearances. Francis Marion's last tournament win came in 1999 when FMU defeated Kennesaw State University 55-53 in overtime in a first-round game before losing to Columbus State University 69-62 in the quarterfinals.
Senior Vony Rivers and George Walker lead FMU in scoring at 14.3 and 14.0 points per game respectively.
The FMU women (11-15) are the sixth seed and will face the third-seeded UNC Pembroke (15-12) in a quarterfinal contest, Thursday at 5 p.m. The winner will advance to Saturday's second semifinal game at 4 p.m.
The two squads split a pair of games this season with each team winning on the other's home court: UNCP won 61-44 in Florence and Francis Marion won 58-52 in Pembroke. The Patriots lead the all-time series 31-15.
The Patriot women are 11-12 in the previous 13 PBC Tournaments, including winning the 1998 tournament title. FMU last appeared in the semifinals in 2003.
Senior Danielle Moore leads a young FMU squad in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg). The Patriots start one senior, three sophomores, and one freshman.
2006 Peach Belt Conference Tournament
Hosted by Lander University, Horne Arena
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Wednesday, March 1 - First Round
#7 Francis Marion vs. #10 UNC Pembroke 5:00
#8 USC Aiken vs. #9 Lander 7:00
Friday, March 3 - Quarterfinals
7/10 winner vs. #2 GC&SU 1:00
#3 Armstrong Atlantic St. vs. #6 Augusta St. 3:00
#4 Clayton State vs. #5 USC Upstate 5:00
8/9 winner vs. #1 Columbus State 7:00
Saturday, March 4 - Semifinals 6:00, 8:00
Sunday, March 5 - Championship 4:30
2006 Peach Belt Conference Tournament
Hosted by Lander University, Horne Arena
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Wednesday, March 1 - First Round
#8 Augusta State vs. #9 USC Aiken 1:00
#7 Columbus State at #10 Lander 3:00
Thursday, March 2 - Quarterfinals
8/9 winner vs. #1 Clayton State 1:00
#4 Armstrong Atlantic St. vs. #5 GC&SU 3:00
#3 UNC Pembroke vs. #6 Francis Marion 5:00
7/10 winner vs #2 USC Upstate 7:00
Saturday, March 4 - Semifinals 2:00, 4:00
Sunday, March 5 - Championship 2:00
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