GETTYSBURG, Pa.- The (RV) Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team (19-6, 11-2 Centennial) held on against Gettysburg (19-6, 10-3 Centennial) in a thrilling 64-59 victory to wrap up the regular season with the team's first Centennial Conference regular season championship since 2015-16. The win, the team's tenth straight, also secures a Centennial Conference Tournament First Round bye and home-court advantage for the entire tournament run.

Kevin Nowoswiat recorded a career-high 32 points in the win, shooting 11-of-20 (55.0%) on field goals and 9-of-10 (90.0%) on free throws with nine rebounds and three assists. Vakaris Grauslys recorded 16 points with two steals and four rebounds, while John Seidman posted nine rebounds, seven points, and a team-best four steals. Josh Parra led the team with three blocked shots.  

After leading 30-28 at the halftime break, the Diplomats began the second half with back-to-back threes from Seidman and Grauslys, and they held a lead around a half-dozen points entering the final ten minutes with a 43-38 advantage with 10:39 left. The Bullets swung momentum, and the lead, back in their favor with six consecutive points over the next two minutes to lead 44-43. Nowoswiat broke the run with a jumper, and a three from him a couple minutes later put F&M ahead by four with 5:26 to go.

The teams traded buckets over the next two minutes, with Gettysburg twice getting within two points before seeing their efforts countered. On the second occasion, a Dylan Cormac three pushed the lead back to five, then Seidman earned a steal on the Bullets' next possession. After calling timeout the Diplomats stretched their lead to seven via a Nowoswiat jumper.

The Bullets converted a three on their next chance, and they stayed within four points entering the final 30 seconds. After using another timeout, a Gettysburg three with 18 seconds left brought them back within one, as F&M led 60-59. They fouled Grauslys off the in-bounds, and he converted both free throws for a three-point cushion. The Bullets' game-tying three attempt with five seconds left was off the mark. Nowoswiat earned the rebound, and he was fouled in the last second to guarantee the victory. He added to the scoreline by converting both free throws.

The first half saw the Diplomats leading 11-3 through the first five minutes, although the Bullets stayed within striking distance, reclaiming the lead at 21-20 with eight minutes to go. The teams traded buckets the rest of the way, as F&M closed out the half on a 6-3 run to lead 30-28.

The sides were close in most statistical categories, with both teams earning 34 rebounds and the Diplomats committing 11 turnovers against 12 from the Bullets. F&M shot 41.8% on field goals, while Gettysburg sank 40.4% of their field goals. 

The Diplomats made a stark improvement on threes in the second half. After missing the mark on all nine three attempts in the first half, they converted 5-of-9 (55.6%) in the second half. 

F&M will open their Centennial Conference Tournament run by hosting in the Semifinal Round on Friday, February 28.