CENTRAL, S.C. - Despite a ferocious second half comeback in their first game in Tysinger Gymnasium this season, the Southern Wesleyan men's basketball team fell just short on Wednesday evening, falling 90-85 to a talented Francis Marion team. The Patriots improve to 2-1 on the young season while the Warriors fall to 1-2. 

"I was pleased with the second half effort," said head coach Charles Wimphrie. "We have to start the first half with the same intensity we had in the second half. They hurt us on the boards and we had too many early mistakes. We played very hard in the second half to cut the deficit but came up just short."

The Warriors more than doubled their first half output as the team scored 58 points in the second half after scoring only 27 in the first half. Turnovers were the difference in the first half as Southern Wesleyan had twice as many as the Patriots in the first half and those turnovers led to easy points for FMU. 

The Warriors were led by freshman DJ Dobson and Justice McCullough. Dobson led all players with 21 points in 23 minutes of action. McCullough, a 6'7 forward, followed with 16 points and seven rebounds, just three rebounds shy of his first double double. Junior Jemiah Wimphrie had 12 points and five rebounds on the night while Zach Watson, another freshman, followed with 10 points in only 18 minutes of play. Da'Quan Weldon added nine points while senior point guard Kenny Holmes had eight and Tyus Jones recorded six. 

The Patriots had five players score double digits as Alante Fenner led with 19 points and Judah Alexander recorded a double double (15 points and 12 rebounds). 

Though turnovers were a large part of the Warrior comeback, SWU also shot 25.5% better in the second half to whittle away at the lead. Southern Wesleyan was an impressive 46% from beyond the arc. One difference maker was rebounding as the Patriots won the battle of the boards 49-31. 

The Warriors return to action Friday, Nov. 20 against North Georgia. The game, held in SWU's Tysinger Gymnasium, is set for 7 p.m.