FLORENCE, S.C. – For the second straight game, senior Michael Carter established a new career high, this time with 19 points, and senior swingman Vony Rivers also tallied 19 points as Francis Marion University cruised to an 82-62 win over Wingate University, Monday (Dec. 5) in non-conference men's basketball action.

The Patriots upped their overall record to 5-3, while Wingate falls to 5-2.

Carter, who scored 16 points on Saturday at Lander University, hit eight of 11 shots from the floor, hauled down five rebounds, and handed out three assists in only 23 minutes of action.  Rivers added added a season-high eight rebounds and had four assists.

FMU senior George Walker scored 16 points and junior center Raymond Dorsey recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two blocked shots.

Sophomore forward Bryan Grier scored a career-high equaling 21 points to lead Wingate.  Forward Sean Barnette added 17 points and eight rebounds, while Justin Baker chipped in 11 points coming off the Bulldog bench.

Francis Marion hit 10 of its first 17 field goal attempts, while holding Wingate to three-of-12 shooting, to take a 24-7 lead midway through the first half.  Carter contributed 10 points to that FMU run.  The Patriots owned a 38-29 advantage at halftime.

Wingate would get no closer than eight points in the second stanza, with that coming in the opening two minutes at 40-32.   The Patriots' largest lead was 22 points on three occasions late in the contest.

Wingate entered the game averaging 82.8 points per game on 50.4 percent shooting from the field.  However, FMU held the Bulldogs to 38.5 percent and forced 18 Wingate miscues.  Only 15 of Francis Marion's last 92 opponents have shot above 46 percent from the floor.

Offensively, the Patriots shot a season-high 49.2 percent from the field and outrebounded the Bulldogs 42-32.

FMU will take break for exams before playing at Mars Hill College on Dec. 17 in the squad's final game before Christmas.  Wingate plays host to Queens University of Charlotte, Saturday at 7 p.m.

12-5-05 7:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 82, WINGATE UNIVERSITY 62
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY (5-2)
Grier, Bryan 7-13 7-11 21; Barnette, Sean 6-12 3-6 17; Baker, Justin 4-11 1-3 11; Kirkland, Shaun 1-2 2-5 4; Thys, Ryan 1-4 0-0 3; Mangum, Ernest  1-6 0-0 3; Villines, Kenny 0-1 2-2 2; Smith, Bill 0-0 1-2 1; Powell, Fernando 0-1 0-0 0; Turner, Rosco 0-0 0-0 0; Carlisle, Sam 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 20-52 16-29 62.

FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (5-3)
Carter, Michael 8-11 0-0 19; Rivers, Vony 8-15 2-3 19; Walker, George 5-9 4-5 16; Dorsey, Raymond 6-13 0-1 12; Jenkins, Michael 3-7 0-0 8; Hamilton,  Marchello 2-5 3-4 8; Burton, Rodrick 0-3 0-0 0; Coakley, Akeene 0-0 0-0 0;  Peterson, Larnelle 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 32-65 9-13 82.

Halftime--Francis Marion 38 Wingate 29. 3-point goals-Wingate 6-21 (Baker, Justin 2-4; Barnette, Sean 2-6; Thys,  Ryan 1-4; Mangum, Ernest 1-5; Powell, Fernando 0-1; Carlisle, Sam 0-1),  Francis Marion 9-19 (Carter, Michael 3-4; Jenkins, Michael 2-4; Walker,  George 2-4; Rivers, Vony 1-4; Hamilton, Marchello 1-2; Peterson, Larnelle 0-1). Fouled out--None. Rebounds-Wingate 32 (Barnette, Sean 8), Francis  Marion 42 (Dorsey, Raymond 9). Assists-Wingate 14 (Barnette, Sean 3;  Thys, Ryan 3; Powell, Fernando 3), Francis Marion 18 (Dorsey, Raymond 5). Total fouls-Wingate 16, Francis Marion 24. A-300