ALLENTOWN, Pa.- The No. 24 Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team (19-3, 8-2 Centennial) made use of an early 15-point run against Muhlenberg (11-11, 4-6 Centennial Conference), as the Diplomats maintained a double-digit lead for much of their 74-55 victory in Allentown on Wednesday evening.

Kevin Nowoswiat scored 21 points, marking his sixth game of the season with 20-plus points. He shot 75.0% (6-of-8) on field goals, was 3-of-3 on triples, and sank all six free-throw chances with eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals.  Vakaris Grauslys recorded 13 points, three assists, and three rebounds, going 4-of-4 at the charity stripe. Dylan Cormac totaled ten points  in just 13 minutes from the bench with two triples, while Bryson Amos-Whitfield totaled seven points, six rebounds, and two assists from the bench. Steve Donahue posted eight points, and three rebounds. 

The early 15-point run for the Diplomats provided the platform for a dominant, 42-21 first half. The Mules opened scoring with a layup on their first possession, but Nowoswiat reclaimed the lead for good with a three two possessions later. That three began a 15-0 run for F&M over the next five minutes. Nowoswiat led scoring for F&M during that spell with seven points, while Cormac totaled five points. Muhlenberg were kept off the scoreboard for seven minutes until they broke F&M's run with a triple with 12:12 to go. 

Leading 15-5 at this point, regained momentum by scoring eight of the next ten points, including threes from Amos-Whitfield and Asad Syed, to go clear, 23-7 through the first 11 minutes. A later eight-point run that included five points from Nowoswiat put F&M 20 points clear for the first time in the game with 5:23 remaining in the first half, while F&M maintained a 42-21 lead at the halftime break. Nowoswiat accounted for 15 of F&M's 42 points through the first 20 minutes. F&M's offense excelled beyond the arc, converting on 60.0% (9-of-15) chances and outrebounding the Mules, 16-9. 

F&M's second-half lead hovered around 20 points, reaching a game-best 26-point cushion on a seven-point run early in the second half to lead 49-23. The Mules got within 14 points with 8:51 to go, but the Diplomats ultimately closed out the game with a 19-point advantage at 74-55. While F&M's three-point shoot slowed down, F&M was effective on free throws i n the second half, shooting 82.4% (14-of-17). 

Across the game, they shot 52.3% on field goals (23-of-44), 47.4% on threes (9-of-19), and 82.6% (19-of-23) on free throws. Muhlenberg went 41.2% (21-of-51) on field goals, 36.4% (8-of-22) on triples, and 62.5% (5-of-8) on free throws. The Diplomats outrebounded their opponents, 31-22

The Diplomats will look for the season sweep over (RV) Johns Hopkins when they travel to Balitmore on Saturday, February 14, at 6:00 p.m. in a contest that could prove pivotal in the race for a first-round bye in the Centennial Conference Tournament playoffs.