Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – Morgan Lee scored a career-high 28 points to lead Franklin & Marshall to a 74-70 victory over Albright in non-conference basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Mayser Center. The victory came in the 100th meeting between the two squads in a series that dates back to 1915. F&M remains unbeaten and improved to 9-0 while the Lions dropped to 4-4.
Head Coach Glenn Robinson picked up career win 879 and tied University of North Carolina coaching legend Dean Smith for the sixth spot on the NCAA All-Time Coaching Victory List.
Tied at 4-4 early in the contest, F&M tallied seven straight and took an 11-4 at 15:23. The teams traded buckets over the next few minutes before the Diplomats put together another 7-0 run to make it 22-11. Albright stayed close and came within seven, 30-23, at 5:47, but the Diplomats answered with a 14-3 run over four minutes to go up 18, before going into the break with a 44-29 lead.
Lee shot 6-for-8 for 18 points in the first half while Devin Figueroa netted eight on 3-for-3 shooting.
F&M found itself in early foul trouble to start the second and Albright took advantage, coming within 11, 50-39, with 15:26 left to play. The Lions made it 53-43 at 14:08 and the Diplomats answered with a 10-3 run to put the Diplomats up 63-46 at 10:47.
The Lions made it 65-50 and the F&M's early fouls caught up as Albright went on a 16-4 run to come within three, 69-66, with 2:37 left to play. The teams traded possessions over the next minute and Stefan Toskovic hit two from the line to put F&M up five. The Lions connected on their next possession and Brandon Federici hit both his shots from the stripe to make it 73-68 with 20 ticks on the clock.
Josh Marquez brought the Lions within three and Albright sent Cedric Moune to the line with seven seconds left. Moune hit his second shot to make it a two-possession game and the Lions were unable to connect on their next trip down court.
Lee shot 11-for-18 for 28 points and added nine boards while Hunter Eggers tallied 10 for the Diplomats. Federici and Figueroa both netted eight.
Four players scored in double-figures for Albright with Gilberto Benz leading the way with 17. DeJuan Smith had 15 while Josh Marquez and Evan Wards chipped in 13 and 11 points respectively.
F&M outshot Albright 45-37 percent and held a 43-39 edge on the boards, including 16 on the offensive side, which led to 21-second chance points.
The Diplomats return to action against Immaculata on Jan. 3rd in the second game of the Sponaugle New Years Tournament. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.
