WESTMINSTER, Md.- The (RV) Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team (12-1, 1-0 Centennial) set a new single-game three-pointer record with 17 triples in their 79-59 win over McDaniel (9-3, 0-1 Centennial Conference) to open Centennial Conference play.

With 17 three-pointers, the team broke the record of 16 set hosting Muhlenberg in a 73-54 win on January 17, 2022. 

Kevin Nowoswiat led the offense with 21 points including five threes, six rebound, and four assists. Steve Donahue followed with 17 points, converting four-of-five triples, while all 12 of Dylan Cormac's points came from threes. He also led the team with two steals. Vakaris Grauslys posted 12 points and six rebounds, while Carter Lawrence had a team-best ten rebounds with four assists.

The three-ball proved the difference maker in the first half for F&M, as the Diplomats shot 57.1% (12-of-21) beyond the arc, scoring 36 of 44 points on triples through the opening 20 minutes. Donahue and Cormac each had 12 first-half points, as Cormac converted four-of-five triples and Donahue was perfect on three chances. 

Donahue opened scoring 1:15 into the game with his first three, while Grauslys added to F&M's lead with a triple of his own, putting F&M ahead 6-2 through three minutes. McDaniel drew level with a pair of free throws and a jumper to tie things up at 6-6 through five minutes. The sides traded buckets to a 9-9 scoreline. At this point, F&M pulled away with a 12-point run that featured five points from Donahue and threes from Asad Syed, Nowoswiat, and Cormac. The run gave F&M a 21-9 lead with 11:21 left in the first half. McDaniel paused the run with a jumper, but the Diplomats proceeded to score 11 more points uninterrupted including back-to-back Cormac triples for a 32-11 advantage. F&M maintained this advantage up to the halftime break,as the sides traded buckets to a 44-22 scoreline at the intermission. In addition to F&M's shooting success beyond the arc, the Diplomats outrebounded the Green Terror 23-9 in the first half.  

The sides traded points to begin the second half before the Diplomats utilized a nine-point run in the middle of the half to reach a game-best lead of 35 points, putting their lead at 76-41 with eight minutes to go. McDaniel reduced the deficit in the remaining time, scoring 18 consecutive points to close the lead to 17 before F&M eventually earned the win at 78-59. 

F&M shot 47.3% (26-of-55) on field goals, 47.2% (17-of-36) on threes, and 81.8% (9-of-11) on free throws across the 40 minutes, while McDaniel went 40.9% (18-of-44) on field goals, 33.3% (3-of-9) on threes including an 0-of-3 first half, and 69.0% (20-of-29) on free throws. F&M won the rebounding duel, 36-26. 

The Diplomats continue Centennial Conference play with a trip to Gettysburg on Wednesday, January 14, at 7:00 p.m.