Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – Four players scored in double-figures as Franklin & Marshall defeated Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) 76-51 in the second game of the Sponaugle New Years Tournament Thursday evening.
The Diplomats will face Delaware Valley, a 74-73 winner over Hobart, in tomorrow's championship game at 7:30 p.m. F&M will look to win its third straight Sponaugle Championship and 26th overall.
Both teams traded baskets during the first four minutes of action with the score tied at seven before F&M (6-4) went on a 19-2 run and took a 26-9 lead with 8:32 left in the first. The Trailblazers struggled to find the basket and the Diplomats took advantage by outscoring MCLA (2-8) 23-8 to close out the half with a 49-20 lead.
Terrel Phelps had 15 in the opening stanza to pace F&M and Jon Salandra tallied 12 for the Diplomats.
F&M increased its advantage to 32, 54-22, two minutes into the second half before the Trailblazers answered with an 18-6 run to come within 20, 60-40, at 10:21. The Diplomats quickly went back up 26 points and maintained at least a 20-point edge the remainder of the contest.
Salandra ended with a game-high 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting with four steals, four blocks and four boards. Phelps ended with 15 while Cedric Moune and Morgan Lee both chipped in 12. Moune shot 5-for-10 from floor with seven rebounds and Matt Porter finished with eight points and seven boards.
Ramon Viches had 14 for MCLA and Jeremic Bennett finished with 11.
The Diplomats outshot MCLA 53-33 percent and forced 18 turnovers that resulted in 27 points.
