LANCASTER, Pa.- The Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team earned several All-Centennial Conference accolades for the 2024-25 season, as Kevin Nowoswiat was named the Centennial Conference Player of the Year with a spot on the First Team, the staff of Nick Nichay, Matt Walsh, AJ Bajana, and Nick Monroe earned Coaching Staff of the Year recognition for the second consecutive season, Vakaris Grauslys earned a Second Team spot in back-to-back seasons, and Sebastien Charles represented the Diplomats on the All-Sportsmanship Team. 

Kevin Nowoswiat is the eighth Diplomat named Centennial Conference Player of the Year, and it marks the 11th time F&M has earned the Player of the Year honor. He also placed on the All-Centennial Conference First Team, marking his first time selected to an all-conference team. The junior guard leads the Centennial Conference in rebounds per game (7.1), ranks second in points per game (19.0), holds the fourth-best field goal percentage (50.8%), and is averaging the sixth-most assists per game (2.9). He's recorded six double-doubles this season, and he recorded a career-high 32 points in last month's win at Gettysburg, the game that clinched the first seed in the Centennial Conference Tournament. 

Grauslys followed up an All-Centennial Conference Second Team spot last season with another selection to the Second Team this year. Grauslys ranks second in the Centennial Conference and 33rd across DIII in steals per game (2.4), contributing to the sixth-best scoring defense (60.4 points allowed per game) in Division III. Among Centennial players, Grauslys also ranks fourth in assists per game (3.0), ninth in free throw percentage (76.1%), and 14th in points per game (13.1). 

Led by Nick Nichay, the Diplomats earned back-to-back Coaching Staff of the Year awards, and it marks the third time an F&M staff has received the honor since the award was introduced in the 2008-09 season. F&M has so far recorded a 21-6, 11-2 Centennial Conference record, winning the Centennial Conference Tournament and the regular season title for the first time since the 2015-16 season. F&M currently sports the sixth-best scoring defense in the country, giving up just 60.4 points per game. Among Centennial Conference sides, the Diplomats lead the way in scoring defense, scoring margin (10.4), turnover margin (2.78), and assist turnover ratio (1.08).

F&M serves as a host for the opening weekend of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, and they'll face (RV) Catholic in the First Round on Friday, March 7, at 6:00 p.m. 
 

All-Centennial Conference Accolades

Centennial Conference Player of the Year
Kevin Nowoswiat

Conference Coaching Staff of the Year
Nick Nichay, Matt Walsh, AJ Bajana, Nick Monroe

All-Centennial Conference First Team
Kevin Nowoswiat

All-Centennial Conference Second Team
Vakaris Grauslys

Centennial Conference All-Sportsmanship Team
Sebastien Charles