 |  |
Diplomats Improve Record to 7-0
LANCASTER, Pa. - Georgio Milligan and James McNally each recorded 20 points, while Anthony Brooks poured in a career-high 19 points to lead Franklin & Marshall men's basketball over Hunter 95-82 on Wednesday night.
In the final game of 2008, the Diplomats (7-0) relied on their sharp shooting from the floor (62.9 percent) for their seventh consecutive win to take an unblemished record into the second half of the season. It was the first time Milligan hit the 20-point mark this season and McNally's third, who went 10-for-13 from the field. Brooks was nearly flawless, going 5-for-6 from the floor and 9-for-10 from the charity stripe.
Joseph DeLuca led the Hawks (4-4) with 25 points, while Nicholas Flagg and Frantz Millien were also in double figures with 18 and 15, respectively.
F&M shot 74.1 percent from the field in the first half, taking a 44-32 lead at halftime and holding off a persistent Hunter squad to snap its three-game winning streak.
Four consecutive shots by the Diplomats in a two-minute span gave them a six-point lead at the 11:47 mark. McNally hit two, while Mike Baker and Clay Scovill finished layups to make it 20-14.
The Hawks fought back and tied the game for the fourth time off a Millian layup, but F&M used a 14-2 run to close out the half for a 44-32 lead. Milligan contributed seven points in the final spurt.
Hunter's 16-6 run to open the second half put the Hawks ahead for the since the 5:47 mark of the first half, forcing the Diplomats to take a timeout. From that point on, F&M would never trail again, pushing the lead back to double digits thanks to a 20-4 run this time for a 70-55 advantage with 9:01 left to play.
Hunter took 10 of its 20 second-half free throws over two minutes to get within four at 76-72. Milligan recorded the next six out of eight points to gain control once again to finish with a 13-point margin.
Danny Selig was the fourth player in double digits with 10 points. Milligan also added six steals and five assists.
The victory marks the second time this season F&M has scored 90+ points, defeating Juniata 97-55 on November 29.
The Diplomats host the Sponaugle New Year's Tournament on Jan. 2-3. F&M take on TNCJ in the opening round at 8 p.m.
