LANCASTER, Pa. - In its opening game of the 2023-24 campaign, the Franklin & Marshall Men's Basketball team dominated Neumann University, 97-67. 

After racing out a 6-0 lead within the first three minutes, the Diplomats grew their advantage to 14-4 following six straight points by Josh Parra. Jaylen Green then hit the first three-pointer of the season for F&M to put the Diplomats up 17-6. Though the Knights cut deficit to five at 19-14, back-to-back Dylan Cormac threes gave F&M a 25-14 lead. The Diplomats would lead by double-digits for the remainder of the night, as a 10-0 run in the final four minutes of the first half gave F&M a 53-29 advantage heading into the locker room. 

Jalen Vaughns began the second half by scoring the first 11 points for Neumann to bring the Knights to within 19, but five straight points by the Diplomats put F&M up 64-24. After TJ Lewis knocked down a shot from distance for Neumann moments later, the Diplomats went on a 8-0 run to take its largest lead of the night at 75-46. With just over 10 minutes remaining, F&M opened up a 30-point advantage after Julian Thomas sunk a free throw to give the Diplomats a 79-49 lead. F&M was scoreless for next minute-and-a-half before Jaylen Green drilled a pair of threes on consecutive possessions. Ending the night with a 97-67 win, the Diplomats saw 13 players get on the floor, with 10 scoring.

Vakaris Grauslys led F&M in scoring on the night with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. The Diplomats also outscored Neumann 52-8 on the bench, with Green and Cormac each posting 15 points. On the boards, Kevin Nowoswiat and Sebastien Charles both registered seven rebounds. Defensively, F&M forced 20 turnovers by the Knights, converting them into 28 points, while also holding Neumann to 4-for-12 from long range.

The Diplomats will next take on Elizabethtown at the Mayser Center on Wednesday, November 15 at 8 p.m.