Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – Four players scored in double-figures as No. 17 Franklin & Marshall defeated Eastern Connecticut 56-52 in the championship game of the Sponaugle New Years Tournament. The victory gives F&M its 25th Sponaugle New Year title and the Diplomats improved to 10-1.
The contest started out slow as both teams struggled to score resulting in a 13-13 tie at the 11:20 mark in the first half. F&M picked up the pace and went on a 10-0 run over the next seven minutes to go up 23-13 with 4:23 left to the break. The double-digit lead did not last for long when the Warriors (7-5) slowly chipped away and finished the half with a strong 6-0 run to come within three, 25-22, at halftime.
F&M traded buckets with ECSU to start out the second frame and Ed Early gave F&M a five-point edge, 35-30, six minutes into the half. Early netted four more in an 8-1 F&M run that gave the Diplomats a 43-33 edge with 8:48 left to play. Matt Porter added six points over the next four minutes to help the Diplomats maintain a double-digit lead, 53-41, at 4:35.
The Warriors came alive at the four-minute mark and went on a 9-0 run to come within three, 53-50, with just 34 seconds left in the game. Porter hit 1-of-2 from the stripe before Tyler Hundley netted two for the ESCU to bring the Warriors within two, 54-52, with just three seconds left.
Brandon Beckford was immediately fouled on the ensuing possession and he netted both shots to put the game out of reach and secured the 56-52 victory.
Max Brewer scored 11 points to earn MVP honors, while Jon Salandra and Porter both finished with 12. Salandra had a solid line score with eight boards to go along with four blocks and four steals. Beckford finished with 11 and Early had eight points to go along with eight rebounds.
Chris Robitaille had a game-high 17 for the Warriors and Trachone Preston fished with 10.
F&M returns to action Saturday when the Diplomats host Swarthmore at 3 p.m.
No. 17 FRANKLIN & MARSHALL 56, EASTERN CONNECTICUT 52
EASTERN CONNECTICUT (7-5)
Chris Robitaille 7-11 3-5 17; Trachone Preston 3-11 3-4 10; Tyler Hundley 4-12 0-0 9; Mike Garrow 4-10 0-0 8; Brian Salzillo 3-11 0-0 8; Darryl Best 0-0 0-0 0; Joe Ives 0-6 0-0 0; Justin Nunez 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-61 6-9 52.
FRANKLIN & MARSHALL (10-1)
Jon Salandra 6-9 0-1 12; Matt Porter 5-14 2-5 12; Brandon Beckford 3-7 5-6 11; Max Brewer 4-9 2-2 11; Ed Early 3-5 0-1 6; Hayk Gyokchyan 2-7 0-0 4; Morgan Lee 0-2 0-0 0; Devin Figueroa 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-53 9-15 56.
Eastern Connecticut........... 22 30 - 52
Franklin & Marshall........... 25 31 - 56
3-point goals--Eastern Connecticut 4-19 (Brian Salzillo 2-8; Tyler Hundley 1-5; Trachone Preston 1-2; Joe Ives 0-3; Mike Garrow 0-1), Franklin & Marshall 1-9 (Max Brewer 1-4; Matt Porter 0-2; Brandon Beckford 0-1; Hayk Gyokchyan 0-2).
Fouled out--Eastern Connecticut-None, Franklin & Marshall-None.
Rebounds--Eastern Connecticut 38 (Chris Robitaille 11), Franklin & Marshall 37 (Hayk Gyokchyan 9).
Assists--Eastern Connecticut 11 (Mike Garrow 3; Chris Robitaille 3), Franklin & Marshall 10 (Max Brewer 4).
Total fouls--Eastern Connecticut 14, Franklin & Marshall 13.
Technical fouls--Eastern Connecticut-TEAM 1, Franklin & Marshall-None.
F&M is ranked No.17 by D3hoops.com
Championship Game of F&M Sponaugle New Years Tournament
All Tournament Team: SU - Trenton Epps, PSU - John Perez, EC - Brian Salzillo F&M - Hayk Gyokchyan ---
MVP: F&M - Max Brewer
