AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern State University men's basketball team suffered a pair of Peach Belt Conference losses at home this week. Francis Marion University defeated the Hurricanes, 90-85, on Monday. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke cruised past GSW, 97-57, on Wednesday to close out the calendar year. 

How It Happened: 

Georgia Southwestern 85 - Francis Marion 90

The Hurricanes held a slim lead for most of the opening six and half minutes in front of a packed house on Sumter County Schools Education Day, but an 11-2 run by the Patriots midway through the first half helped the visitors take a 45-28 lead into the halftime break.

GSW warmed up on the offensive end over the final 20 minutes, knocking down 7 of 16 (43.8 percent) from long range and 58.3 percent overall in that span, to post 57 points. Despite pulling within six (65-59) at the eight-minute mark, the Hurricanes couldn't find a way to clear that final hurdle and even the score.     

Francis Marion (6-1, 2-0 PBC) shot 51 percent overall for the game and 47.4 percent (9 of 19) from beyond the arc. The Patriots put up 39 free throws off 25 GSW fouls.

Devin Watson led the Hurricanes with 17 points. Watson was one of five GSW players to score in double figures. Andre Statam scored 13, R.J. Sessions added 12, Grant Howard chipped in 11 and Quenten Taylor finished with 10.

Brandon Parker dropped 36 points behind 8 of 9 shooting, including 6 of 7 from 3-point range, to lead the Patriots. Parker added a game-high eight rebounds. 

Georgia Southwestern 57 - UNC Pembroke 97 

The Hurricanes hung with the Braves for the opening 13 minutes and trailed 31-24 before a 16-4 run by UNC Pembroke to close out the first half put GSW in a hole that got deeper as the game rolled on.

UNC Pembroke (8-1, 3-0 PBC) extended its current winning streak to six and scored 90-plus points for the second-straight game, having already posted over 100 points twice this season.   

The Braves shot 56.7 percent overall and made 42.9 percent from long range. UNC Pembroke capitalized on 21 GSW turnovers to finish with a 27-5 points off turnovers advantage. GSW never led in the game and the Hurricanes bench was outscored 51-7.

Jalen Morgan made 7 of 11 shots and led GSW with 17 points and five rebounds. R.J. Sessions scored 15 and Devin Watson added 10.

Cam Hamilton was a perfect 5-for-5 from 3-point range and led UNC Pembroke with 17 points off the bench. Micah Kinsey led all players with eight assists.  

Up Next: The Hurricanes take a holiday break and return to the hardwood on Jan. 5 at Lander University.