Dec. 19, 2006

Box Score

READING, Pa. - Garrett Etzel and Terrance Shawell combined for 45 points to lead Alvernia to a 72-58 win over Franklin & Marshall on Tuesday. Shawell scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half, including four fast-break points that thwarted Franklin & Marshall's comeback bid.

Trailing 15 points with 14 minutes left in the game, the Diplomats began to chip away at Alvernia's largest lead of the night. The Diplomats embarked on a seven-minute, 13-3 run to get within five of the Crusaders, 52-47. The momentum built by F&M crashed to a halt when Alvernia's Tyrone Bradley stripped Benjamin Stone, and handed Shawell a walk to the basket. His dunk halted the Diplomats run.

Pat Przybylowski answered with a pair of free throws on the following possession, but a Bradley lay-up followed by a Shawell steal and lay-up ran the Crusaders' lead back out to nine. A Shawell jumper on Alvernia's next possession made it 60-50 with 4:09 left in the game. The Diplomats failed to cut into the double-digit lead down the stretch.

Franklin & Marshall was its own toughest opponent at times. The Diplomats failed to cash in on free throws throughout the game, connecting on only 14 of 26 chances at the line, while 16 turnovers resulted in 24 Alvernia points. The Diplomats enjoyed a 41-26 Franklin & Marshall advantage in rebounds, but 19 offensive boards yielded only 10 second chance points.

While Shalwell did the damage late, Etzel's 11-point, first-half effort left the Diplomats playing catch-up from the outset. On the strength of his 5-of-9 shooting in the first period, Alvernia built up a nine-point lead. The Diplomats cut it to 28-28 late in the half, but a Shawell trey gave the Crusaders the lead for good.

In addition to 23 points, Etzel was credited with nine assists, five rebounds and four steals. Franklin & Marshall got a game-high 19-points from Bryan Teschke. He had six rebounds and four steals. Brandon Yost chipped in with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double.

With the loss, Franklin & Marshall falls to 4-5 on the year. Alvernia improves to 6-2 with the win. The Diplomats return to action on January 2nd when Franklin & Marshall hosts the Sponaugle Tip-Off the New Year Classic.