FLORENCE, SC – Junior swingman Andre Morgan scored 28 points to lead North Georgia College & State University to a come-from-behind 71-64 overtime win at Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 2) in Peach Belt Conference men’s action.
Francis Marion led 55-51 with 31 seconds remaining in regulation, but a three-pointer by North Georgia’s Xavier Trice cut the margin to 55-54. Following two free throws by FMU’s Houston Power with 17 ticks left, the Saints’ Nick Pope knotted the score at 57-57 with a three-pointer from the left corner with :07 on the clock. Francis Marion pushed the ball up the floor but Simel Boyd’s short jumper at the horn rolled off the rim.
Morgan scored the first four points of the overtime session and the Saints never trailed in the extra period.
With the heartbreaking loss, FMU dips to 8-9 overall and 2-8 in the PBC, while North Georgia improves to 11-7 and 6-5 and sweeps the season series from the Patriots.
Power paced the Patriots with 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Ziyadah Carter added 12 points and Boyd, in only his second collegiate start, scored a career-high 12 points and grabbed a career-high equaling nine rebounds.
Trice followed Morgan for North Georgia with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
North Georgia missed 13 of its first 15 field goal attempts allowing FMU to build a 17-9 lead in the first half. However, a trio of three-pointers and one free throw quickly reversed the lead putting the Saints up 19-17. Morgan drained consecutive three-pointers to end the half and give North Georgia a 26-20 halftime advantage.
Six straight Patriot points to open the second stanza tied the score at 26-26.The second half featured eight ties, but Francis Marion led for most of the final two minutes until Pope forced the overtime with his tying shot.
Both team shots under 29 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, but warmed somewhat after halftime. FMU ended the game shooting 40.7 percent, while North Georgia stood at 37.3 percent. In the deciding overtime period, North Georgia made three of four shots from the field and 8-of-11 free throws.
Francis Marion plays host to Armstrong Atlantic State University on Monday at 7:30 p.m., while North Georgia entertains Lander University, also Monday at 7:30 p.m.
2-2-08 4:30 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
NORTH GEORGIA COLL. & ST. UNIV 71, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 64 OT
NORTH GEORGIA COLL. & ST. UNIV (11-7 , 6-5 PBC)
Morgan, Andre 8-14 7-9 28; Trice, Xavier 4-8 6-8 17; Rowe, Anthony 3-5 3-4
9; Pope, Nick 1-9 3-4 6; Burrell, Lee 1-2 1-2 4; Hofler, R.J. 1-3 2-4 4;
Millsap, Jakirra 1-6 1-2 3; Maddox, Matt 0-0 0-0 0; Jackson, Marquez 0-2 0-0
0; Bennett, Andrew 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-51 23-33 71.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (8-9 , 2-8 PBC)
Power, Houston 3-9 6-7 13; Carter, Ziyadah 5-11 1-4 12; Boyd, Simel 6-14 0-0
12; Clark, Kevin 3-7 0-0 7; Burton, Rodrick 3-6 1-2 7; Turner, David 3-6 0-0
6; Jones, Crayton 0-4 4-4 4; Morley, Nate 1-1 0-0 3; Stiglbauer, Carter 0-1
0-0 0; Baker, Cortne' 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 12-17 64.
Halftime: North Georgia 26 Francis Marion 20. Regulation 57-57.
3-point goals-North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ 10-24 (Morgan, Andre 5-11;
Trice, Xavier 3-5; Pope, Nick 1-4; Burrell, Lee 1-2; Jackson, Marquez 0-2),
Francis Marion University 4-13 (Morley, Nate 1-1; Carter, Ziyadah 1-3;
Power, Houston 1-5; Clark, Kevin 1-2; Turner, David 0-1; Boyd, Simel 0-1).
Fouled out--North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ-None, Francis Marion
University-Jones, Crayton; Carter, Ziyadah. Rebounds-North Georgia Coll. &
St. Univ 33 (Trice, Xavier 10), Francis Marion University 41 (Boyd, Simel
9). Assists-North Georgia Coll. & St. Univ 11 (Jackson, Marquez 3), Francis
Marion University 16 (Power, Houston 5). Total fouls-North Georgia Coll. &
St. Univ 18, Francis Marion University 27. A-750
Charges drawn: Burton, Morgan, Rowe 2
