WESTMINSTER, MD - Guard Adam Leonard (So., Muncy, PA/Muncy) connected on seven-of-12 from the field, two-of-six from beyond the three point arc and eight-of-nine at the free throw line for a game high 24 points to lead the Franklin & Marshall College men's basketball team to a 74-63 win at McDaniel College in Centennial Conference men's basketball action.
The total erases his previous career scoring high of 16 points from a 78-73 win over Alvernia College on December 20, 2005 in the Mayser Center as Leonard went off in the second half against McDaniel hitting four-of-five from the field, including a three-pointer, and drained eight free throws in 18 minutes as the Diplomats (9-9, 4-7 Centennial Conference) outscored the Green Terror (6-12, 4-7 Centennial Conference) 43-35 in the half for the 11 point victory.
Leonard was one of three Diplomats starters to reach double-digits in the game as forwards Bryan Teschke (Jr., Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel) added 17 points and 12 rebounds and Brandon Smith (Sr., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) tacked on 19 points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
Overall, the Diplomats' starters tallied all but two of Franklin & Marshall's points in the game as center Derek Hines (So., Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) added six points and six rebounds and point guard Logan Outerbridge (Jr., Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) tallied six points and three assists to lead F&M to its 16 straight win over the Green Terror.
Franklin & Marshall opened the game with a 9-0 run in the first three minutes of play as Smith made a lay-up and a free throw, Outerbridge drained a three-pointer, Leonard dropped in a lay-up and Teschke converted the backend of a pair of free throws.
The Green Terror tied the game at 12-12 and took a 17-12 lead with 10:26 left in the first half, but the Diplomats went on a 12-0 run ignited by a three-pointer by Leonard to take a 24-17 lead at the 5:05 mark.
McDaniel came back to tie the game at 24-24, but Franklin & Marshall closed out the half with a 7-4 run to carry a 31-28 lead into the second half.
Chad Arrington put in a lay-up to open the second half and cut the Diplomats' lead to a point before Franklin & Marshall engineered a 9-2 spurt to lead 40-33 with 15:35 left on the game clock.
Chris Prior made a lay-up at 10:53 to trim F&M's lead to 45-43, but the Diplomats outscored McDaniel 6-1 over the next four minutes to lead 51-44 with 7:08 to play,
Leading 53-49 at the 4:40 mark, F&M received some insurance from Leonard who drilled a three-pointer off an assist from Outerbridge to go ahead 56-49.
Franklin & Marshall pushed the lead out to 62-52 with 1:40 to play following a pair of free throws by Leonard, but McDaniel rallied to pull to within three points at 66-63 with 39 seconds to play.
F&M closed out the game at the charity stripe as Outerbridge went one-for-two, Leonard drained three-of-four and Teschke connected on two-of-two at the free throw line, while Smith dropped in a lay-up for the 74-63 win.
For McDaniel, Josh McKay came off the bench to tally a team high 15 points and eight rebounds, while Will Talesnick added 14 points and six assists.
The key to the game was F&M's dominance in the paint as the Diplomats outscored the Green Terror 40-20 underneath the basket. Further, Franklin & Marshall out rebounded McDaniel 43-to-35, including a 30-to-23 advantage on the defensive glass, and shot 45.5% (25-of-55) from the field.
Historically, Smith continued his assault on the Franklin & Marshall record book as he raised his career totals to 1,430 points, 627 rebounds, 256 assists, 65 blocks and 194 steals as he eclipsed Cas Thomas '02 for eighth in steals and moved within 15 points of eclipsing Steve Juskin '04 (1,444) for sixth on the all-time scoring list at the College.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on January 28 at Centennial Conference front-runner Ursinus College. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.
