LANCASTER, Pa. – Five players scored in double-figures to lead Franklin & Marshall to an 84-67 victory over Alvernia to win the 2017 William Marshall Tip-Off Tournament Saturday evening. The Diplomats improved to 3-0 while the Golden Wolves fell to 2-1. Matthew Tate and Brandon Federici were named to the All-Tournament Team, while Federici garnered Most Valuable Player honors. 

F&M took an early 6-3 lead and after an Alvernia bucket, the Diplomats scored eight straight and went up 14-5 at 13:34. Alvernia came within three, 21-18, before the Diplomats went on a 9-2 run, with five points from Ignas Slyka, for a 30-20 lead at 5:24. The Golden Wolves hit two from the line before F&M went on another 9-2 spurt for a 15-point, 39-24 lead, at 1:49 and went into the break with a 41-31 advantage. 

Slyka led all scorers with 14 points in the opening frame, while Tate and Federici both netted seven. 

The Diplomats outscored Alvernia 17-8 in the opening six minutes of the second half to take a 58-39 lead at 14:34. F&M maintained a double-digit edge and went up 18 on a Federici triple at 10:05. Alvernia came within 16, 79-63, but five straight from F&M put the Diplomats out front 84-63 with under two to play as F&M cruised to the win. 

Slyka led all scorers with 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting and Federici ended with 15. Tate shot 5-for-9 from the field for 14 points while Matt Groll and J.C. McGrath both ended with 12. 

F&M outshot Alvernia 55-30-percent, while the Golden Wolves had a 41-38 edge on the boards. 

The Diplomats open Centennial action on Tuesday when F&M travels to Gettysburg for an 8:00 p.m. game.