Dips Win Robinson's 1,000th

Jan. 3, 2008

Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - Coaching in his 1,000th collegiate game, Franklin & Marshall men's basketball head coach Glenn Robinson also celebrated his team's 84-62 victory over Alvernia to capture the 41st annual Sponaugle New Year's Tournament on Thursday night.

Already the most victorious coach in the history of Division III, Robinson becomes just the second in the division to reach the 1000-game plateau.

Coming off a season-high 19 points in last night's semifinal, senior guard Brandon Chasen had a career game, knocking down six three-pointers and recording 26 points to earn MVP honors. James McNally added his first collegiate double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds to help the Diplomats (6-5) win their 21st Sponaugle title.

Mitch Rhyner finished the tournament with 22 points, earning All-Tournament along with Terrence Shawell for the Crusaders (4-5) after combining for 32 points in two games, adding 12 tonight. Matt King led Alvernia with 17 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in the loss.

In similar fashion to the first round game against Southern Virginia, F&M banged out two from three-point range on its first two shots by Anthony Brooks and Rhyner.

Mike Baker hit for two consecutive jumpers and Chasen pulled up for two in the paint for a quick 14-2 lead at the 15:18 mark.

The tone remained the same throughout the first half with the Diplomats taking a 19-point advantage and only allowing nine points with 10:33 remaining.

The Crusaders scored the next six points, including four from King, but Chasen buried another trey and Baker followed with a jumper to make it 31-13.

F&M took a 45-32 lead into the locker rooms and Chasen took charge to start the second half, scoring the first eight points on two three-pointers and a fast-break layup after making a steal.

Alvernia battled back to within 11 points at 68-57 on a layup by Shawell at the 6:54 mark, however the Diplomats used five points from McNally and a trey from Chasen for a 10-1 run to make it 78-58.

Chris Sullivan recorded 11 of his 14 points in the second half and Baker finished with 14 points.

The Diplomats shot 57 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the line, while holding the Crusaders to just 14 percent shooting from the three-point line.

F&M returns to action on Wednesday at Swarthmore, when they will play its 2000th game in program history, beginning at 7 p.m.