Local College Roundup: FMU men rally to beat Coker in OT

PEMBROKE, N.C. — Francis Marion University scored the game’s final 10 points in overtime to erase a six-point deficit and beat local-rival Coker 72-68 on Friday in the opening game of the UNC Pembroke Classic.

FMU improves to 4-0 for the second straight year and ups its all-time series lead over the Cobras to 42-11, including three straight wins.

Junior forward Robert Faulkner led the Patriots with 16 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots before fouling out. Forward Andrew Smith added 12 points and five rebounds while senior guard
Herman Mains added 11 points, including the go-ahead basket in the final minute.

Mason Ambler led Coker (1-1) with 21 points and nine rebounds before he also fouled out. Guard Vatrick Thompson chipped in 15 points.

Thompson hit a pair of three-pointers to open the extra session and stake the Cobras to a 66-60 lead. The two teams traded baskets leaving FMU facing a 68-62 deficit with just 2:21 left.  Francis Marion
then went on its 10-0 run with Mains scoring the go-ahead hoop on a layup with 25 seconds left and Kendrick Robinson sealing the win with two free throws with one tick remaining.

Francis Marion led by as many as six in the first half before claiming a 32-28 advantage at halftime. The Patriots were up 38-32 when Coker responded with a 9-0 spurt to reclaim the lead. The Cobras
clung to a 59-54 margin with 1:42 left in regulation, but a 6-1 run by FMU forced the overtime period. Mains hit a three-pointer during that rally and Robinson tied the game on two free throws with 26
seconds left in regulation.

Francis Marion will play St. Andrews Presbyterian College today at 3 p.m. on the second day of the UNCP Classic.

Coker women’s golf signs first-ever player
HARTSVILLE — Cokerwomen’s golf coach Tommy Baker is pleased to announce the signing of the program’s first golfer to a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period.

Natalie Falco will become the first member of the newly formed women’s golf team starting in the fall of 2010.

Falco comes to Coker from Stoughton, Mass., where she is a standout golfer for Fontbonne Academy. A four-year letter winner and team captain, Falco was the winner of the Brockton City Open, the
Fall River Classic and the NEPGA Junior Shootout.

“The signing of Natalie is a historic moment for both the Lady Cobra golf program and Coker College,” said Baker. “She is a great young woman from a great family. Her ability to be a talented golfer and her academic prowess will open many doors for her in the future.”

Coker men’s golf adds Ohio pair
HARTSVILLE — Coker men’s golf coach Tommy Baker is pleased to announce the signing of two golfers to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period.

Both Josh Clay and Matt Kreider hail from Ohio, with Clay coming to Coker from Canton, Ohio and Kreider coming from Westlake, Ohio.

Clay is a four-year letter winner and standout athlete at Canton Central Catholic where he was named the All-Ohio County Player of the Year twice.

Kreider is a four-year letter winner from Westlake High School, where he is a four-time High School MVP selection. A four-time All-Southwest Conference selection, Matt has also had the lowest scoring
average on his team for three years.