Men’s, women’s basketball teams take victories during senior night against Lander

Both the FMU men’s and women’s basketball teams ended senior night in victory as they faced the Lander Bearcats on Feb. 15.

With multiple turnovers and fast breaks, the women’s basketball game was fast-paced. In total the Lady Bearcats forced 10 steals, and the Lady Patriots forced five.

The Lady Bearcats and Lady Patriots were tied 35-35 at the end of the first half, but with consistency in breaking the Lady Bearcat’s full-court press during the second half, the Lady Patriots pulled ahead to clinch the win.

The Lady Patriots beat the Lady Bearcats 71 to 61. Forward Shaunice Fulmore led the Lady Patriots in scoring with 19 points, and guard Mylea McKenith led the Lady Bearcats in scoring with 22 points.

Sophomore middle-level education major Chevy Ellington said he was proud of how the women’s team didn’t lose focus during a back-and-forth scoring game.

“I think they played well,” Ellington said. “I’m really happy for Coach Porter and her staff. They had a really tough start, but they turned it around. She runs a first-class program. I’m proud of them.”

The women’s FMU players and coaches as well as some fans wore pink T-shirts to support the Play 4 Kay project, an organization that funds women’s breast cancer research.

The men’s game, like the women’s consisted of back-and-forth baskets during the first half. Lander led 38 to 35 at the half.

However, the Patriots scored the first basket of the second half and continued to build on that momentum, leading most of the second half. The Patriots won with a final score of Patriots 88, Bearcats 77.

Forward Brandon Parker led the Patriots in scoring with 25 points, and guard Rahu Purdie led the Bearcats in scoring with 16 points.

Sophomore business management major Jayson Daniels said he was concerned during the first half when the Patriots were behind, but he never lost hope in the team.

“I think we did really well,” Daniels said. “We started off slow, but during the second half we played at our own pace. We moved the ball well and got open shots which equaled an 11-point victory.”

During the game, guard Detrek Browning hit a three-point shot that made his total points scoring as a Patriot tally 1,570, putting him in fifth place all-time scorer at FMU. Browning continued to score, making his point total for the night 24.

Before the women’s and men’s games began, FMU recognized each teams’ seniors. The women’s team has one senior, guard TeTe Flowers. The men’s team has three seniors: forward Samson Nnaji, center Nigel Holley and forward Kenneth Jackson. While each player’s accolades were announced, their coaches and teammates congratulated them and posed for pictures with them.

Senior student athletes from all sports were recognized during halftime of the men’s basketball game. Each athlete chose a faculty member who was influential to them during their school career to stand with them on the court as their name was called.

The Dimensions of Diversity Dance Team performed during both basketball games and at half time of the women’s game.