Nov. 25, 2006

Box Score

HUNTERDON, Pa. - Despite three players scoring in double figures, Franklin & Marshall dropped to 1-3 with a 78-67 loss at Juniata (3-0) on Saturday.

Derek Hines, Evan Hamme, and Adam Leonard combined for 42 points, but the Diplomats got little in the way of offensive production from the bench, which contributed just 14 points to Franklin & Marshall's cause.

Juniata, on the other hand, got 32 bench points, 22 of which were scored by Brian Cannon. In addition to leading all scorers, Cannon posted five rebounds and a pair of steals. He hit on seven-of-nine shots from the field, including a perfect two-for-two effort from three point range, and converted on six-of-seven free throws.

The Diplomats sent Juniata to the line 33 times in the course of the game. The Eagles made good on 29 of those shots, including 25 in the second half. Kyle Opitz hit all 11 of his free throws en route to 15 points. Brent Ferko also contributed 17 points to Juniata's victory.

The Eagles controlled the scoreboard most of the game, but never managed to pull the game out of Franklin & Marshall's reach. The score was tied at 57-57 with 7:39 left in regulation, but a Leonard turnover resulted in an Aaron Chamberlain lay-up coming back the other way to give the hosts a two-point lead. Less than two minutes later, Juniata had grown the lead to five points. F&M's deficit never shrunk below three points down the stretch.

Hines, the Diplomats leading scorer with 15 points, hit seven-of-11 shots from the field and pulled down six rebounds. He was also credited with a pair of assists, a pair of steals, and a blocked shot. Hamme had 14 points and six rebounds, while Leonard came up with 13 points and four assists.

The loss drops the Diplomats record to 1-3 on the season. Juniata's mark remained unblemished, improving to 3-0. The Diplomats will look to return to the win column on Tuesday when it opens the Centennial portion of the 2006-2007 slate with Gettysburg. The tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Mayser Center.