FLORENCE, S.C. – Detrek Browning stole an inbounds pass and hit a go-ahead jumper with 1.4 seconds left to cap a furious second-half comeback for Francis Marion and lift the Patriots to a 79-77 win over the UNC Pembroke men's basketball team on Wednesday evening in the Smith University Center.
The setback closed the lid on the 2015-16 campaign for the Braves, who finished the season with a 15-13 mark, including a 9-10 clip in the rugged Peach Belt Conference. Francis Marion (17-11, 9-10 PBC), who trailed by as much as 15 points with 5:48 remaining, advances to Saturday's PBC Tournament quarterfinal round where they will travel to take on top-seeded and PBC East Co-Champion Columbus State.
Alex Bradley scored 18 points on 5-of-10 shooting to pace the Black & Gold, while freshman James Murray-Boyles came off the bench to add 15 points on 50 percent field goal shooting as well. Brandon Winford chipped in 17 points in the effort.
Browning registered a career-high 31 points for the Patriots who snapped a three-game series losing streak in the process as well. Alante Farmer came off the bench to add 15 points for the hosts.
Winford hit the front end of a two-shot foul with 5:48 left to play to give the Braves a comfortable 72-57 advantage, but Browning's 3-pointer on the ensuing possession ignited the Patriots on 14-2 run over the next four minutes that eventually pulled the hosts to within three points, 74-71, with just less than two minutes left.
Bradley hit a pair of free throws to give UNCP a 77-74 advantage with 27 seconds left, but Farmer canned a long-range 3-pointer with four seconds on the clock to knot the score up. Browning picked off the inbounds pass moments later, and drained a 15-foot jumper to give FMU the upset.
Both teams showed signs of pulling away in the first half, but neither side was able to do so. The Braves outscored the hosts 10-2 midway through the period to grab a 17-10 lead after a free throw by Watts at the 10:24 mark, but Francis Marion came roaring back to take a six-point lead, 32-26, eight minutes later. Bradley and Chris Smith hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions down the stretch, and the teams eventually went into the locker rooms with 34 points apiece.
