LANCASTER, PA -- Franklin & Marshall College head men's basketball coach Glenn Robinson recorded his 667th career victory to surpass former Illinois Wesleyan head coach Dennie Bridges for the NCAA Division III career wins record as the Diplomats performed a 75-52 St. Valentine's Day massacre of Muhlenberg College in Centennial Conference play at the Mayser Center.
Robinson, who improved his career record to 667-234 with the victory, now stands 12th among all active NCAA coaches in victories and has already surpassed legendary UCLA coach John Wooden (664-112) for 25th on the all-time list.
In his 33rd year at F&M, Robinson has guided the Diplomats to the Division III Final Four four times (1979, 1991, 1996 and 2000) and was named the Basketball Times Division III "Coach of the Year" in 1991. He has earned conference and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) regional "Coach of the Year" honors 11 times.
Currently, he holds the ninth best winning percentage in NCAA history as his mark has been bettered by only Kentucky's Adolph Rupp (.822), UCLA's John Wooden (.804), UNLV/Fresno State's Jerry Tarkanian (.784), North Carolina's Dean Smith (.776), Duke's Mike Krzyewski (.745), Northern State's Don Meyer (.743), Syracuse's Jim Boeheim (.743) and Arizona's Lute Olson (.741).
In addition, with the victory and a 69-49 loss by Johns Hopkins University at Haverford College, Franklin & Marshall, which entered the game with a three-game lead over Hopkins with four games remaining, clinches the #1 seed and hosting duties for the Centennial Conference men's basketball championships set for February 28-29.
"It's a wonderful feeling to win the game and clinch the #1 seed in the playoffs," said Robinson following a post-game celebration in which he was lauded by alumni, administration and local politicians. "I am proud to accept these accolades on behalf of all the players and on behalf of Franklin & Marshall College. This is really not about me, this about the players. They won the games."
Against Muhlenberg, the key player was center Steve Juskin (Sr., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) as the preseason All-America center dominated the Mules on both ends of the court registering game highs in points (20), rebounds (six) and blocked shots (four).
Leading 38-23 at halftime, the Diplomats turned up the heat with a steady dose of Juskin in the opening minutes of the second half as he scored seven straight points for the blue and white as F&M led 45-30 with 15:13 left on the clock after Juskin made a free-throw.
The free-throw ignited the deciding run as the Diplomats reeled off a 7-0 spurt behind a pair of free-throws by center Danny Lynch (Jr., Richboro, PA/Council Rock), a three-pointer by guard Jackiem Wright (Sr., Sicklerville, NJ/Moorestown Friends) and a lay-up by forward Bobby Lynch (Sr., Richboro, PA/Council Rock) to take a 52-30 lead with 13 minutes left on the game clock.
Muhlenberg's Ryan Bonda drained a three-pointer to slice the margin to 19, but Wright hit a lay-up and a pair of free throws before the Mules' Dennis Severino tallied a bucket for a 56-35 game. It marked the last time Muhlenberg was within 20 points of the Diplomats as F&M coasted to the 23-point victory and NCAA history.
In the first half, the Mules stuck with Franklin & Marshall as Jeff Stewart hit a lay-up to give the Mules a 7-6 lead with 14:50 left in the first half. It marked the last time Muhlenberg held the lead as point guard Duran Searles (Sr., Camden, NJ/Peddie School) drained an NBA range three-pointer before Jimmie Riggins knocked down a jumper to knot the game at nine all with 13:26 left until intermission.
The points fired the Diplomats' offense as guard Logan Outerbridge (Fr., Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) came off the bench and fired in a "three" to ignite an 18-0 run in which five different Diplomats scored, including five points from Wright who finished the game with 17 markers, for a 27-9 lead with 8:15 remaining in the half.
F&M pushed the lead out to 20 as Searles converted a fast break for a lay-up and a 35-15 margin before the Mules chipped the lead down to 15 at 38-23 before halftime.
For Muhlenberg, O'Brien led the Mules with 13 points and six rebounds, while Stewart added eight points in the effort.
Robinson and the Diplomats will return to the court in an effort to record a 20-win season and Robinson's 668th win on February 18 versus McDaniel. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m.
