AIKEN, S.C. – Senior Vony Rivers scored a game-high 20 points and junior reserve Marchello Hamilton hit two clutch free throws in the final minute to lead Francis Marion University to a 75-71 Peach Belt Conference win over USC Aiken, Wednesday night (Feb. 15) in men's action.
Francis Marion improves to 10-13 overall and 5-11 in the PBC, while stopping a six-game skid on the road. Following Rivers, senior Reinaldo Charles tallied 15 points and eight rebounds in a rare start, and senior forward Michael Carter added 11 points.
Richard Blocker led USCA (4-19, 2-14) with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Arnold Coates added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Trailing 22-18 in the opening half, the Patriots took the lead for good with a 9-0 run. FMU led 39-31 at intermission.
The margin quickly grew to double figures after halftime, and following a Raymond Dorsey jumper with 14:50 left, the Patriots led 53-35. USCA answered with a 13-1 spurt that trimmed the Francis Marion advantage to 54-48. A three-pointer by Rivers pushed the lead back to double digits at 58-48.
The Pacers began chipping away at that lead and when Kingsley Oguchi drained a three-pointer, FMU led only 69-68 entering the game’s final minute. The margin stayed at one point when Rivers scored on a three-point play, but USCA’s Kenny Burr buried a three-point field goal with 29 ticks left.
Hamilton then hit two free throws on the next FMU possession, and following a USCA turnover, senior point guard Michael Jenkins sealed the win with one free throw at :06.
FMU will play host to Columbus State University, Saturday at 4 p.m. The game will feature a visit by the NCAA Basketball mascot J.J. Jumper.
2-15-06 7:30 pm at Aiken, S.C. (The Courthouse)
FRANCIS MARION 75, USC AIKEN 71
FRANCIS MARION (10-13, 5-11 PBC)
Rivers, Vony 8-15 2-5 20; Charles, Reinaldo 5-11 3-4 15; Carter, Michael 4-6
1-2 11; Dorsey, Raymond 3-5 2-5 8; Hamilton, Marchello 2-6 2-4 6; Jenkins,
Michael 1-11 3-4 5; Braxton, Paul 2-3 0-0 4; Walker, George 1-4 0-0 3;
Coakley, Akeene 1-1 0-0 3; Burton, Rodrick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 13-24 75.
USC AIKEN (4-19, 2-14 PBC)
Blocker, Richard 4-12 5-5 16; Coates, Arnold 5-6 5-6 15; Oguchi, Kingsley
3-8 3-5 10; Poston, Josh 3-6 2-2 10; Oates, Theo 2-2 2-2 7; Burr, Kenny 2-5
0-0 6; Glover, Richard 1-1 2-2 5; Sampson, Anthony 1-1 0-0 2; DePaula, Tiago
0-1 0-1 0; Varga, Lukas 0-1 0-0 0; Brown, Chris 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-44
19-23 71.
Halftime-Francis Marion 39 USCA 31.
3-point goals-Francis Marion 8-26 (Carter, Michael 2-3; Charles, Reinaldo
2-6; Rivers, Vony 2-6; Walker, George 1-2; Coakley, Akeene 1-1; Jenkins,
Michael 0-7; Hamilton, Marchello 0-1), USC Aiken 10-24 (Blocker, Richard
3-9; Poston, Josh 2-4; Burr, Kenny 2-4; Oguchi, Kingsley 1-3; Oates, Theo
1-1; Glover, Richard 1-1; Varga, Lukas 0-1; Brown, Chris 0-1). Fouled
out--Francis Marion-None, USC Aiken-Poston, Josh; DePaula, Tiago.
Rebounds-Francis Marion 34 (Charles, Reinaldo 8), USC Aiken 32 (Blocker,
Richard 8; Coates, Arnold 8). Assists-Francis Marion 15 (Jenkins, Michael
6), USC Aiken 13 (Oguchi, Kingsley 4). Total fouls-Francis Marion 22, USC
Aiken 24. A-721
