LANCASTER, Pa.- The Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team (22-6, 10-3 Centennial Conference) was unable to erase an 11-point halftime deficit, falling to No. 23 Cortland (23-4, 17-1 SUNYAC), 75-66, in the NCAA Tournament First Round.

Today's loss concludes a 2025-26 campaign where the team posted a 22-6, 10-3 Centennial Conference record, securing the program's third-straight season with 20-plus victories and an appearance in the Centennial Conference Tournament Semifinal. This marked the program's 27th time playing in the NCAA Tournament, and it is the first time the team has earned back-to-back tournament bids since the team's four-peat from 2009 through 2012. F&M ended the 13-game home slate with a perfect record at the Mayser Center, marking the first undefeated season at home since 2017-18 and the 15th overall time the team has stayed undefeated in Lancaster. A season-best winning streak of 12 games from November 11th through January 10th is tied for the 13th-longest winning streak in program history. 

Kevin Nowoswiat was among four Diplomats with double-figures, as he led the team with 20 points and six rebounds. Vakaris Grauslys posted 14 points with two triples and lead the team with four assists and three steals. Franklin Jones posted 13 points with five rebounds, while Steve Donahue totaled ten points.

A couple of key runs proved vital to Cortland carrying a 36-25 lead at the halftime break. The Red Dragons opened the contest with a 4-0 lead through the first two possessions, while the Diplomats countered with a Bohdan Biekietov dunk and a Grauslys top-of-arc triple for a 5-4 advantage four minutes into the game. The sides traded the lead over the next few minutes up to a 10-9 lead for F&M. At this point, Cortland scored seven-consecutive points in less than a minute, reclaiming a 17-10 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the first half.

F&M returned from the timeout with a Donahue layup and Jones mid-court steal into a dunk, cutting the deficit to three points at 17-14. The sides traded baskets across the next three minutes during a run where Jones scored six more points, keeping the Diplomats within four points with five minutes to go. The Red Dragons fired off six unanswered points in the next minute, forcing a couple of Diplomats turnovers to go ahead by 13 points. They eventually carried a 36-25 advantage into the halftime intermission.

Cortland converted on 68.2% (15-of-22) of their field goal attempts and 55.6% (5-of-9) of their triples, while 15 of their points game via junior forward Joel Davis. F&M was kept to 40.7% (11-of-27) on field goals and shot 37.5% (3-of-8) on threes. The Red Dragons outrebounded the Diplomats 14-10.

F&M maintained the gap for much of the second half, trailing by about a dozen points for much of the second half. Cortland's lead reached a game-best 15 with seven minutes to go. Grauslys scored six points over two runs, converting three-of-three free throws and a triple to cut the lead to nine points. The sides traded buckets over the next few minutes, and the Red Dragons slowly pushed their lead back to 12 with 1:53 to left. Nowoswiat made one last charge with back-to-back triples to cut the lead in half with 1:16 left. Cortland stopped the rally, drawing fouls and converting on seven of their eight free throws in the remaining time to win by nine points.

The Red Dragons maintained their efficient shooting in the second half, converting 61.1% (11-of-18) of field goals and sinking 83.3% of their 18 trips to the charity stripe. Across the entire contest, they shot 65.0% (26-of-40) on field goals. Nowoswiat starred for the Diplomats in the second half, scoring 18 of his 20 points in the final 20 minutes.

Post-Game Press Conference