For a half, the Demopolis kept the visiting Francis Marion “Runnin’ Rams” from doing much running at all. The second half, however, was a very different story.

After leading 15-13 at the break, Francis Marion doubled their first-half output in the third and fourth quarters and pulled away from the Tigers to post a 45-35 victory in the Demopolis varsity boys’ season-opener Tuesday night.

Marion was led by Edward Hinkle with 11 and Jonathan Anderson with 10. Patrick Robinson was the only Demopolis player in double figures, with 10.

Solid defense by both teams and a patient Demopolis offense resulted in a low-scoring and often slow-paced first half. The Tigers opened the scoring with a Sandy Taylor bucket more than two minutes in and thanks in part to good work on the boards led 7-3 with 2:30 left in the quarter after a MacArthur Johnson three-pointer.

But three straight buckets, the last two by Anderson, put Marion up 9-7 early in the second quarter. The lead grew to 15-11 on an Anderson bucket with 2:50 to play in the half before Robertson trimmed it to two before the break.

The Tigers could have claimed the halftime lead from the charity stripe, but finished the first half only 2 of 13 from the line and went 10-29 for the game.

Marion took advantage, getting back-to-back buckets from Kevin Curry to start the half and holding Demopolis without a field goal until a three by Robertson at the third-quarter buzzer. By that point the lead had stretched to 29-18 and grew to 34-21 after an Anderson three with 5:55 in the game.

Robertson’s second three drew Demopolis within seven at 34-27 with 4:53 left, only for Devin Dunnican to score back-to-back buckets. A quick four points from Dontrell Miller got the lead back to nine at 44-35 with 1:15, but Demopolis could get no closer.

Robertson was joined on the Demopolis scoresheet by Willie Blount with 8 points, Johnson with 6, Miller with 6, Brandon Burrell with 2, Taylor with 2, and Brian Taylor with 1.

Ken Arrington had 8 for the Rams to go with Dunnican’s 7, Curry’s 7, and Antonio Collins’s 2.

Demopolis will be in action again at home Friday against Bibb Co.