January 12, 2008
Diplomats Veto Shoremen, 76-68
Green Paces Washington with 15 Points

LANCASTER, PA – Host Franklin & Marshall held off a late charge b visiting Washington College to post a 76-68 Centennial Conference men's basketball win this afternoon at the Mayser Center. The Diplomats improved to 8-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play with the win, while the Shoremen slid to 3-10 and 0-6 with the loss.

Franklin & Marshall scored the last five points of the first half to take a 36-27 lead into the intermission. The Diplomats used an 8-0 run earlier in the half to break a 21-21 deadlock and take control with a 29-21 lead following a lay-up by Daniel Selig with 4:33 left in period.

Washington cut the lead to five points early in the second half, but the Diplomats answered by opening up a 13-point lead. F&M held a 67-57 lead with 3:35 to play before the Shoremen went on a 9-2 run to pull within three points at 69-66 on a three-pointer by junior guard Tim Kohlrus (Fairfax, VA/W.T. Woodson) with 57 seconds remaining. Mitch Rhyner netted a pair of free throws with 54 seconds left to make it 71-66, but Kohlrus scored with 42 seconds remaining to close it to 71-68. Brandon Chasen then knocked down a pair of free throws with 38 seconds left to give F&M a 73-68 lead. The Shoremen came up empty on their next possession and Rhyner knocked down a pair of free throws for F&M with 17 seconds left to seal the win. Selig added another free throw with eight seconds left to provide the final margin.

Rhyner led all scorers with 22 points and added five assists and five rebounds to pace the Diplomats. Clay Scovill added 17 points, while Mike Baker finished with 14 points and six boards. James McNally brought down a game-best nine boards and scored seven points for F&M.

Junior guard Todd Green (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) led the Shoremen with 15 points in the loss. Sophomore forward Bobby Klepacki (King of Prussia, PA/Upper Merion) added 12 points and eight boards, while sophomore guard James Restrepo (Wyomissing, PA/Wyomissing Area) added 10 points. Kohlrus scored all nine of his points during the Shoremen's late run. He also brought down eight rebounds.

F&M shot 52% from the field in the game, while Washington shot 49%. Each team collected 30 rebounds in the contest. The Shoremen committed 18 turnovers to the Diplomats' 15.

The Shoremen return to action Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. Centennial Conference home game against McDaniel.

BOX SCORE