Francis Marion falls in NCAA tournament

A 10-0 run in the final minutes of overtime allowed second-seeded and 16th-ranked Augusta University to escape with a 77-70 victory over seventh-seeded Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (March 16) in the quarterfinal round of the 2019 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Francis Marion ends its season at 21-9, and for the second year in a row in heartbreaking fashion.  Last season, the Patriots lost on a 30-foot buzzer beater to UNC Pembroke in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Patriot senior guard Ryan Davis followed Hill with 20 points (on 9-of-16 shooting) and eight rebounds, while freshman forward Kailex Stephens added 10 points and five rebounds.  Senior forward and PBC Co-Player of the Year Brandon Parker chipped in eight points, including the game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation, and senior forward Je’Quan Perry scored seven and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.