LANCASTER, Pa.- A commanding opening to the second-half from the Diplomats proved the difference maker, as the F&M men's basketball team (17-6, 9-2 Centennial) broke a 14-game losing streak to Johns Hopkins (15-8, 9-2 Centennial), 66-56, on Saturday afternoon.
The win moves the Diplomats level with both Johns Hopkins and Gettysburg atop the Centennial Conference standings at 9-2 in-conference, and F&M sees a clearer path to a Centennial Conference Tournament First Round bye by securing a tie breaker over Johns Hopkins with today's win. With the result, the Diplomats secure playing at home in their playoff opener whether that be in the First Round or Semifinal.
Kevin Nowoswiat led the offense with 22 points, shooting 9-of-13 (69.2%) on field goals with two threes. Vakaris Grauslys led the team in assists (7, season-high) and steals (3) while contributing ten points and two blocked shots. John Seidman totaled ten rebounds, seven points, and two blocked shots, while Sebastien Charles led the team with 11 rebounds from the bench while chipping in three points. Dylan Cormac converted on 3-of-5 (60.0%) of his three attempts, totaling 11 points.
A layup from Josh Parra and a Cormac three put F&M ahead 5-3 through the first two minutes of the game. The Blue Jays were fouled on a three attempt, and they converted on all of their chances to reclaim a 6-5 lead. Nowoswiat then reclaimed the lead with a layup, setting up a sequence of the teams trading baskets. Down 11-9, the Diplomats countered with an 8-1 run that featured four points from Steve Donahue and four points on the fast break. Ahead 17-12 with 8:51 left in the first half, the Diplomats maintained a modest lead in the remaining time, eventually going into halftime with a 23-21 lead in a low-scoring finish to the half. The Diplomats kept the Blue Jays to a 22.7% field goal percentage in the first half while shooting 39.3% themselves.
The Diplomats kicked off the second half on a 13-point run over a two minute-span that featured triples from Nowoswiat, Grauslys, and Cormac, putting the hosts ahead 36-21 through the opening five minutes. The Blue Jays called two timeouts during this run, and they were eventually able to maintain pace, trailing 46-32 with eight minutes left.
Four-straight points from them closed the gap to ten, but Nowoswiat delivered a three to stall comeback hopes. This began a sequence over the next few minutes of the Diplomats countering every attack from Hopkins, often with threes, maintaining a 61-48 gap with 2:16 left. Grauslys drew fouls on back-to-back possessions to push the lead to 17 entering the final two minutes. With 1:43 on the clock, the Blue Jays informally withdrew by pulling their starters. Hopkins closed out the game with a 8-1 run for a final score of 66-56. The Diplomats shot 52.0% on field goals and 58.3% on threes in a dominant second-half display. Across the 40 minutes, they outrebounded the Blue Jays 42-28.
Prior to the game, the program's seniors, Riiny Giir, Sebastien Charles, Sam Davison, and John Seidman were recognized as part of Senior Day festivities.
Before traveling to Gettysburg on Saturday, the Diplomats begin their final week of the regular season at Dickinson on Wednesday, February 19, at 8:00 p.m.
