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GETTYSBURG, PA - Gettysburg College's Curtis McNeil scored a game high 35 points, including the 1000th of his career, as the Bullets (11-4, 3-1 Centennial Conference) upset #7 nationally ranked Franklin & Marshall (13-2, 3-1 Centennial Conference), 79-69 in Bream Gymnasium on Saturday. F&M, which entered the game following a 52-46 win over Ursinus College on Wednesday in which they shot a season low 16-of-52 from the field, would hit 10-of-24 in the first half as the Bullets built a 42-29 lead at intermission behind 19 points from McNeil. Overall, F&M would drain 47.2% of their field goal attempts for the game, while Gettysburg used an 18-of-27 performance in the first half to hold on for the ten-point victory. Early in the game, the contest appeared to be one-sided as F&M built a six point lead just 5:45 into the game as Steve Juskin (So., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) hit a lay-up following an Asaf Ganot (Jr., Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) steal for a 12-6 Diplomats lead. But Gettysburg would cut the lead quickly as McNeil scored five straight points as the Bullets rattled off an 11-0 run to take a 17-12 lead. The Diplomats would return the favor, as Duran Searles (So., Camden, NJ/Peddie School) and Larry Fain (Sr., Crum Lynne, PA/Chester) combined for seven points as the Diplomats tied the game at 19 with 9:22 to play in the first half. However, Gettysburg would get the better of the half, blasting out on a 23-10 run in the final nine minutes to take the lead for good. The key to the first half was turnovers for Franklin & Marshall, as the Bullets scored 18 points off 13 Diplomats turnovers in the opening twenty minutes, while F&M mustered four off six Bullet miscues. The second half would see inspired play from the Blue and White as the defending Centennial Conference Western Division champions fought back from a 16 point deficit with 10:30 to play to cut the lead to three twice in the final three minutes. At 3:09, Cas Thomas (Sr., Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) laid home a bucket off a rebound to pull F&M within three at 66-63. However, McNeil would draw a foul from Juskin at 2:49 and made both free throws to push the margin back to five. Gettysburg's John Schnebly would return the favor, fouling Thomas who made one-of-two with 2:32 to play for a 68-64 game. Juskin would foul McNeil again with 2:13 to play as the Gettysburg player missed the first, but made the second for a 69-64 game with 2:13 left before slicing through the Bullets' defense for a lay-in to cut the lead back to 69-66. Following an F&M timeout, Juskin would slapped a pass away from Kevin Boyle and dish it off to Jackiem Wright (So., Sicklerville, NJ/Moorestown Friends), whose three-point attempt rattled off the rim where Terrance Callahan corralled the rebound. Gettysburg finished the game with four lay-ups and a pair of foul shots by McNeil for a 10-3 run to tie F&M at three wins and one loss for the Centennial Conference Western Division lead. Overall, F&M finished with 22 points in the paint and 10 points off turnovers in the second half as the Bullets turned the ball over seven times. The Diplomats were led by Thomas, who finished with 16 points, as four players tallied in double-digits. Juskin chipped in 11, Duran Searles 10 and Larry Fain 11 points, while guards Ganot and Fain led the team in rebounding with five each. Gettysburg, which fell 70-62 at Muhlenberg on Wednesday, was led on the boards by guard Jim Natale with six rebounds and forward Callahan with five. Center David Glaser was the only other Bullet to score in double-figures as he finished with 12. Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on Monday as they travel to local rival Lebanon Valley College for a non-conference matchup. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Annville.
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