CHESTERTOWN, MD - Forward Jonathan Webb scored 24 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead Washington College past Franklin & Marshall College 74-64 in Centennial Conference men's basketball.
Overall, Washington (11-12, 9-7 Centennial Conference) shot 23-of-55 (41.8%) from the field, including six-of-19 (31.6%) from beyond the arc, and 22-of-35 (62.9%) at the free throw line, while the Diplomats (11-12, 6-10 Centennial Conference) mustered an 18-oif-62 (29.0%) performance from the field, including three-of-15 (20.0%) beyond the arc, and 25-of-38 (65.8%) at the line.
Trailing 6-5 at the 15:39 mark of the first half, Washington took control of the game as Kyle Stem drained a three-pointer to start a 7-0 as the Shoremen took a 12-6 lead at the 14:11 mark. The Diplomats rallied to cut the lead back to 12-10 as the Shoremen and Franklin & Marshall traded runs to a 22-20 Washington lead with 6:54 left in the half.
The Shoremen closed out the first half with a 9-3 run as the teams entered the locker room with Washington leading 31-23.
Franklin & Marshall trimmed the lead back to four points at 34-30 with 18:52 left on the game clock courtesy a three pointer by guard Adam Leonard (So., Muncy, PA/Muncy) and a lay-up by forward Bryan Teschke (Jr., Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel), but Webb hit a three-pointer and converted on a lay-up attempt to fuel a 7-0 Shoremen run to take a 41-30 lead with 15:28 on the clock.
The Diplomats cut the lead to nine points on a pair of free throws by point guard Logan Outerbridge (Jr., Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock), but Washington answered with a 14-3 spurt to take a 55-35 lead at the 9:30 mark.
Washington's lead grew to 25 points at 65-40 with 4:58 to play before the Diplomats rallied to close the gap in the final minutes.
For F&M, Outerbridge finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Teschke chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals and guard Mantas Paulaskas (So., Parry Hall, MD/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) added 11 points and three rebounds.
Stem added 10 points and three assists for the Shoremen and Joey Breslin tacked on 14 points and six rebounds as Washington moved to within a win of clinching a berth in the Centennial Conference playoffs.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on February 15 at home versus McDaniel College. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
