FLORENCE, S.C. – The balanced scoring approach was not enough on a tough shooting night for the Chowan Men's Basketball team in a loss on the road against Francis Marion to open league play on Tuesday evening.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 60, Francis Marion 78
RECORDS | Chowan 0-3 (0-1), Francis Marion 2-1 (1-0)
LOCATION | Florence, S.C. (Smith University Center)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Four players registered eight points each, RJ Wilson, Jay Estime, Preston Le Gassick, and Paul Whitby. Wilson collected seven rebounds. Cheick Traore contributed six points and eight rebounds.
Chowan shot 31.7% (20-63) from the floor.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half:
Chase Barnett would drive the lane to put the Hawks on the board. Cheick Traore added to the scoring with a hook shot before Jay Estime knocked down a triple to put the Hawks up 7-2. Francis Marion rallied to even the score before Skyler Davies ended the run with a jumper. Isaac Hippolyte converted the three-point play before the Patriots went on a 15-0 run over the next six minutes as Paul Whitby knocked down a jumper to end the run, 24-14.
Isaac Hippolyte collected a pair from the stripe before Veigar Alexandersson posted a layup. RJ Wilson knocked down a corner three to close the gap to 26-21. Paul Whitby added another basket following a shot clock violation at the other end. Preston Le Gassick hit a triple for his first collegiate basket to keep pace with the Patriots, 30-26. Whitby tallied a floater in the lane prior to the Hawks going scoreless over the next three minutes.
RJ Wilson ended the drought with a layup in the final minute of the frame. The Hawks would force another shot clock violation with 4.4 seconds remaining. Chowan trailed 33-30 at the intermission.
Second Half:
FMU opened up the half on an 8-2 run as Jay Estime put the Hawks on the board with a layup before a Chowan timeout. Out of the break, Preston Le Gassick connected from deep to end the run. Daylan Askew added a layup and Paul Whitby hit a jumper.
The Patriots moved their advantage to double-digits, 57-39, with a 12-0 run as the Hawks went on a scoreless drought. RJ Wilson picked up a point at the stripe as FMU continued their run. Veigar Alexandersson ended the drought from the floor with a jumper, 59-42.
RJ Wilson collected a layup before Chase Barnett picked up a pair from the stripe. FMU pushed their advantage to 66-46 with just over six minutes remaining. Jay Estime knocked down a corner trey to end another scoreless drought for the Hawks. Cheick Traore added four points at the stripe before Preston Le Gassick and Daylan Askew tallied a pair from the stripe.
Daylan Askew connected from deep on the final shot for the Hawks.
UP NEXT
Chowan hosts Catawba for their home opener on Saturday, November 26. Tip-off is slated for 4pm.
