FLORENCE — Francis Marion didn’t so much go looking for Robert Faulkner as he went looking for the Patriots.
Both seem pretty happy they hooked up.
The 6-foot-8, 225-pound junior transfer forward turned in a solid double-double, scoring 22 points and pulling down 17 rebounds in 19 minutes in the Patriots’ 101-62 win over Carver Bible College on Wednesday at Smith University Center.
Anyone watching Faulkner play against the outmanned Cougars (0-7) might not have known he was out of basketball for two years before joining the Patriots (3-0) this season.
“I’m getting there. These guys are younger than me,” Faulkner said, chuckling. “I’m just getting my legs under me and getting my shot down, trying to get back into the swing of things.”
The Peoria, Ill., native went to South Plains College, a two-year school in Levelland, Texas, out of high school.
After two seasons there and with a new son, Faulkner decided to work at his father-in-law’s engineering company for two years to earn some money before continuing his college career.
When he was finally ready to restart his studies and his basketball, he scoured the Internet, sent e-mails to coaches all over the country and ended up in Florence.
In three games with FMU, Faulkner has 50 points and 29 rebounds.
“He has a tremendous amount of potential,” FMU coach Gary Edwards said. “It will take him a while to get back into the swing of things, but I think he can be a great offensive rebounder.”
The Patriots essentially put the Cougars away early, outscoring them 24-7 over the final 9:23 of the first half to take a 50-29 lead into the break.
Carver got no closer in the second half. The Patriots built a lead as big as 43 points on three occasions in winning their 13th straight non-conference game. Junior Andy Peterson had 15 points off the bench for FMU.
A veteran team might not gain so much from a 39-point blowout, but for FMU, which is trying to replace five starters and with 15 newcomers in all, every game is a learning experience.
“This is what we need right now,” Edwards said. “With this many new faces, we wouldn’t have wanted to overload the schedule. You want to have some time to work on some things before you get the big dogs in here. But the big dogs are coming.”
Carver, which plays just nine home games and 22 on the road, was playing its third road game in as many days. The Cougars played at Valdosta State on Monday and at Division I Georgia State on Tuesday. Joshua Caston led the Cougars with 16 and Cory Evans had 12.
FMU returns to the floor at 6 p.m. Friday against Coker at the UNC Pembroke Classic in Pembroke, N.C.
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