Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – Georgio Milligan earned his second Sponaugle New Years Tournament MVP in three years as he led No. 8 Franklin & Marshall to an 81-71 victory over Hobart. The victory marks the 24th Sponaugle New Years title for the Diplomats as they improved to 11-0 on year.
With the game tied at 56 and 10:39 remaining in the game, F&M scored six unanswered points to go up 62-56 at 8:57. Hobart came within two points a minute and half later to make 66-64 at 7:05. Hayk Gyokchyan hit his next three out four shots from the line, and Milligan slammed one home, to put the Diplomats up seven points, 71-64, with a little over five minutes to play.
The Statesmen came within five, 71-66, at 4:51, but Milligan took control of the game and scored seven straight points to give F&M a 77-68 edge with 1:49 left to play. Hobart battled back to come within seven points, but Milligan stepped up again and hit all four of his foul shots down the stretch to secure the victory.
F&M jumped out to an early 11-4 lead before Hobart answered with an 8-0 run to take a 12-11 lead almost six minutes into the game. The Statesmen went up 18-15 at 10:55. F&M responded with an 9-2 run to go up four points, 24-20, only to see that lead fall away as Hobart retook the lead, 28-26, with 4:52 remaining in the opening half.
The Diplomats answered with a commanding 13-0 run that spanned over three minutes and led 39-28 with 1:26 left to play. Hobart scored four straight and went into the break trailing F&M 39-32.
Hobart slowly chipped away and tied the game at 53 on layup by Rezin Davis at 11:44.
Austin Alecxih drained a trey to put the Diplomats up three, but Hobart answered with three straight to tie game at 56, setting up the Diplomats run.
Milligan had a game-high 29 points to go along with six boards, three steals and three blocks. The senior shot 10-for-14 from floor, including 5-for-7 from behind the arc. He moved up to the sixth spot on F&M's all-time scoring list with 1,564 career points and is 233 points shy of all-time scoring mark set by
James McNally last season.
Gyokchyan picked up his fifth double-double this season with 26 points and 12 boards to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. He has scored over 20 points four times this season. Alecxih finished with nine points on 3-for-9 shooting and
Jon Salandra scored eight.
Five players scored in double-figures for Hobart. Joe Gibbons had a team-high 16 points and Stefan Thompson finished with 14 points. Richine Bonney tallied 13 points while Matt Pebole and Josh Kalenderian both finished with 10 apiece.
F&M returns to action Thursday when the Diplomats host Oneonta State at 5 p.m.
No. 8 FRANKLIN & MARSHALL 81, HOBART 71
HOBART (7-2)
Joe Gibbons 4-8 6-8 16; Stefan Thompson 5-11 4-5 14; Richie Bonney 5-6 2-7 13; Josh Kalenderian 4-7 2-3 10; Matt Pebole 4-6 0-2 10; Rezin Davis 4-8 0-0 8; Connor Rehbaum 0-1 0-0 0; Trey Blanding 0-2 0-0 0; Greg Stern 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-51 14-25 71.
FRANKLIN & MARSHALL (11-0)
Hobart........................ 32 39 - 71
Franklin & Marshall........... 39 42 - 81
Rebounds—Hobart 27 (Matt Pebole 6), Franklin & Marshall 31 (
Hayk Gyokchyan 12).
Assists--Hobart 8 (Stefan Thompson 3), Franklin & Marshall 14 (
Georgio Milligan 4).
Total fouls--Hobart 17, Franklin & Marshall 20.
Technical fouls--Hobart-None, Franklin & Marshall-None.
A-872
F&M is ranked No. 8
All-Tournament Team:
Ethan Eichorst - MC;
Terrell Brown - DU;
Stepfan Thompson HC
Hayk Gyokchyan - F&M
MVP: Georgio Milligan - F&M
