Box Score 

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Muhlenberg defeated Franklin & Marshall 56-45 in Centennial Conference (CC) men's basketball action Thursday evening. The Diplomats fell to 9-5, 3-4 CC, while the Mules improved their mark to 8-6, 5-2 CC.

F&M held an early 4-2 lead three minutes into the game, but the Mules netted six straight for an 8-4 lead. The Diplomats countered with four and tied the game at 8-8, and finished off an 8-0 spurt with a J.C. McGrath layup for a 12-8 lead at 8:39.

The Mules retook the lead, but a Solomon Mathis triple tied it up at 17-17 with a little more than five to play. The Mules finished the half strong with an 11-4 run for a 28-21 lead at the break.

Muhlenberg increased their lead to 12, 39-27, four minutes into the second half. F&M stayed close and came within 10, 44-34, at 11:50, but were unable to keep pace as the Mules maintained a double-digit lead the remainder of the game.

J.C. McGrath hit 8-for-12 from the floor for a team-high 18 points to go along with nine boards and three steals. Les Thomas netted nine points and Matt Redhead finished with eight.

F&M returns to action on Saturday when the Diplomats host Ursinus at 3:00 p.m.