DAHLONEGA, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University used a 58-point second-half performance to down Francis Marion University 84-54, Saturday evening (Dec. 1) in Peach Belt Conference men's basketball action.
The Patriots' (4-2, 0-1) Ziyadah Carter led all scorers with 18 points, while Houston Power added nine points and one steal. FMU will now break for exams before returning to action on Dec. 15 at Florida Christian College.
The Saints hit on 12 of 26 three-point attempts, while Francis Marion was 2-of-13 from long range and 8-of-18 at the free throw stripe.
North Georgia fell behind early following a 6-0 run by Francis Marion that gave the Patriots a 6-1 lead. The Saints would fight right back and score five straight points capped by a jumper from LaBrian Lyons with 15:59 remaining to tie the game 6-6.
The Saints would take their first lead of the night on Lee Burrell’s first three-pointer of the game for a 9-7 lead. The Saints would fall behind 11-12, but another three from Burrell gave North Georgia a 14-12 advantage with 7:08 to play in the half. North Georgia used a 16-0 run in the first half to jump out on top 25-12 and would take a 26-20 lead into intermission.
In the second half, the Saints came out firing, jumping out to a 16-point lead on an Andre Morgan three-pointer with 14:44 remaining to make it 42-26. North Georgia would eventually extend their lead to as much as 32 points on a lay-up by Jakirra Milsap as the Saints went on to the 30 point win.
The Saints were paced by four players in double figures, including Nick Pope with 15, while Morgan and Burrell each added 14 points and four three-pointers, and Lyons chipped in 12 points and five assists.
North Georgia (3-3, 1-1) will return to action on Monday night as they host Carver Bible College in Memorial Hall at 7:00 p.m.
12/01/07 4:00 PM at Dahlonega, GA
NORTH GEORGIA 84, FRANCIS MARION 54
FRANCIS MARION (4-2, 0-1)
Carter, Ziyadah 8-14 1-2 18; Power, Houston 4-8 0-0 9; Smith, Sam 3-11 2-6
8; Clark, Kevin 2-10 2-5 6; Turner, David 3-5 0-0 6; Jones, Crayton 1-2 2-2
4; Stiglbauer, Carter 1-4 1-2 3; Boyd, Simel 0-0 0-0 0; Peterson, Larnelle
0-0 0-0 0; Morley, Nate 0-1 0-0 0; Burton, Rodrick 0-1 0-1 0; Baker, Cortne'
0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-56 8-18 54.
NORTH GEORGIA (3-3, 1-1)
Pope, Nick 5-10 4-5 15; Burrell, Lee 5-9 0-0 14; Morgan, Andre 4-9 2-2 14;
Lyons, LaBrian 4-12 3-6 12; Millsap, Jakirra 1-1 6-6 8; Trice, Xavier 2-6
1-2 6; Rowe, Anthony 2-4 2-2 6; Hofler, R.J. 1-5 2-2 4; Maddox, Matt 1-1 0-0
3; Bennett, Andrew 1-1 0-0 2; Jackson, Marquez 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 20-25
84.
Halftime: North Georgia 26 Francis Marion 20.
3-point goals-Francis Marion 2-13 (Carter, Ziyadah 1-6; Power, Houston 1-3;
Turner, David 0-1; Morley, Nate 0-1; Burton, Rodrick 0-1; Smith, Sam 0-1),
North Georgia 12-26 (Morgan, Andre 4-6; Burrell, Lee 4-8; Pope, Nick 1-3;
Trice, Xavier 1-3; Maddox, Matt 1-1; Lyons, LaBrian 1-5). Fouled
out--Francis Marion-None, North Georgia-None. Rebounds-Francis Marion 29
(Smith, Sam 5; Clark, Kevin 5), North Georgia 41 (Pope, Nick 9).
Assists-Francis Marion 5 (Jones, Crayton 2), North Georgia 17 (Lyons,
LaBrian 5). Total fouls-Francis Marion 22, North Georgia 18.
