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Scovill Drains Game-Winning Basket For Sponaugle Title
LANCASTER, Pa. - Clay Scovill scored the game-winning fast-break layup with 0.7 seconds left to help the Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team capture its second straight Woodrow S.W. Sponaugle New Year's Tournament title with a 81-79 over Susquehanna on Saturday night.
Scovill, who finished the night with 16 points and a team-high five assists, grabbed the offensive rebound off James McNally's attempt to win the game and tipped the ball in as time was expiring to secure the Diplomats (9-0) ninth consecutive win.
Mike Baker was not only one of six players in double figures, but was named Tournament MVP for posting back-to-back double-doubles with an 11 point, 10 rebound performance tonight. Steve Tolliver also earned All-Tournament Team honors with a career-high 17 points, knocking down four three-pointers and dishing out four assists.
The Crusaders' (7-4) put four players in double digits, led by Rob Cosgrove with 18 points. Joel Patch recorded his fifth straight double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds to be named to the All-Tournament Team.
Susquehanna outscored F&M in the second half 51-42 and took the lead twice, while scoring seven points in a 36-second span with just under a minute to play to tie the game for the seventh time but Scovill's heroics kept the Diplomats undefeated and with a trophy in their hands.
Down 12-10 at the 14:39 mark of the first half, Tolliver's first three-pointer of the night sparked an 8-0 run by F&M to take a six-point lead. That lead grew to double digits thanks to a 12-3 run, capped by another Tolliver three-pointer at 37-25.
The Crusaders returned the favor to start the second half, using a 13-3 spurt including three triples to take the lead for the third time in the game at 14:38. The next four minutes was a sea-saw battle with four ties, until Tolliver hit yet another triple to get the Diplomats out a sticky situation and regain the lead. Baker recorded consecutive layups and Georgio Milligan drove in for the fast-break basket for a 62-53 advantage.
Susquehanna went 8-for-9 from the charity stripe and got four points from Cosgrove to knot the game at 71-all. Milligan and James McNally scored to put F&M on top with four points each on a basket and two free throws, but the Crusaders managed to rally back. Bryan Majors made a three-pointer and Matt McDevitt made the ensuing steal, while Spenser Spencer scored a jumper with seven seconds left to make it 79-all.
Milligan recorded 15 points, while Dontae Johnson and McNally added 10 points to round out the six double-figure players for the Diplomats.
F&M returns to action on Wednesday against Swarthmore. Game time is 8 p.m.
