LANCASTER, Pa.- The (RV) Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team (11-1) closed out non-conference play by defeating regular Centennial Conference opponent Haverford (6-6), 76-52, on Wednesday evening.

Vakaris Grauslys starred offensively, posting 19 points including five triples with a team-best three assists plus four rebounds. Three other Diplomats eclipsed double-figure scoring totals. Kevin Nowoswiat had an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double, his third of the season to date. Bryson Amos-Whitfield totaled 11 points, including three three-pointers, with six rebounds from the bench, while Steve Donahue also reached 11 points with two steals. Franklin Jones had nine points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Dylan Cormac led F&M with three steals. 

The Diplomats were swift in earning a lead, going 4-0 up inside of 90 seconds via Nowoswiat and Donahue. The Fords opened their scoring two minutes into the contest, but F&M followed this with a five-point run that included three points from Jones. A shot beyond the arc for Haverford cut the lead to 9-4, but the Diplomats again countered a crucial 11-point run with contributions from four different Diplomats including four points from Grauslys. This put the lead at 21-5 through the first eight minutes, and the advantage would stay in the double digits the rest of the way. The sides traded buckets for the remaining time in the first half, as F&M carried a 38-21 lead into the break. The Diplomats limited the Fords to a 28.0% (7-of-25) field goal percentage in the first half while shooting 45.5% (15-of-33). The Diplomats also made effective use of Haverford turnovers, outscoring their opponents 12-4 on points via turnovers.

Haverford surged following the halftime break, utilizing a 9-2 run early on to reduce F&M's lead to 12. Eight-consecutive points from Amos-Whitfield, including back-to-back threes, gave the hosts a 20-point lead for the first time in the contest at 50-30 with 14 minutes remaining. F&M was able to maintain the advantage from there, as the sides traded buckets to a 76-52 final scoreline.

The Diplomats outrebounded the Fords, 49-30, while shooting 42.4% (28-of-66) from the field against 33.3% (10-of-57) from Haverford.

F&M concludes non-conference play with an 11-1 record and an 11-game winning streak dating back to November 11. It marks the best 12-game run to open a season since 2017-18's Sweet 16 side also went 11- through the first 12 contests. 

The Diplomats open Centennial Conference play at McDaniel on Saturday, January 10, at 3:00 p.m.