FLORENCE, S.C. - The Francis Marion University men's basketball squad shot 56 percent from the floor, holding off an Armstrong Atlantic State University second-half comeback for a 114-106 Peach Belt Conference victory on Monday evening in Florence, S.C.

The win keeps alive the postseason hopes for the Patriots (16-11, 9-8 PBC) while handing Armstrong (10-15, 6-11 PBC) its fifth straight loss of the season.

Francis Marion built a huge halftime lead by scoring 62 points in the first half for a 27-point 62-38 advantage. In the second half, Armstrong cut that lead to single digits, 71-62, on a DeVon Jones basket with 13:58 remaining and got within six points, 85-79, on a Mychal Horn layup with 7:57 left, but the Patriots would not allow the Pirates to get any closer.

Six Patriot players scored in double figures, led by Liki Turner's 22 points and Zamarius McClendon's 20 points. Marcus Wright and Evrik Gary each chipped in 17 points for Francis Marion, while Darryn Frazier and Andrew Smith added 12 points apiece.

Armstrong placed four players in double figures, led by Horn's career-high 30 points and 27 points from Chris Vanlandingham. Grant Domsic hit 5-of-9 three-pointers for 15 points off the bench and Jones added 14 points.

Francis Marion hit 38-of-68 shots from the floor for 55.9 percent, while also hitting 13-of-22 three-point shots (59.1 percent) and 25-of-29 free throws (86.2 percent). Armstrong hit 50.6 percent of its shots, canning 40-of-79 field goals, while hitting 10-of-29 three-pointers for 34.5 percent and 16-of-19 free throws for 84.2 percent.

The Pirates will wrap up the 2011-12 regular season by hosting Augusta State in a Peach Belt Conference contest on Saturday, February 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Alumni Arena.