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LANCASTER, PA - Guard Jackiem Wright (Jr., Sicklerville, NJ/ Moorestown Friends) and center Steve Juskin (Jr., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) each scored 18 points as the Franklin & Marshall College men's basketball team routed Bethany College 108-43 in non-conference action. The Diplomats led from the opening tip as Juskin laid in a basket 58 seconds into the game to start a 7-0 run by F&M to open the game. The first half was a series of Diplomats' runs led by Juskin as F&M reeled off a 10-0 run following the first two baskets by the Bison to build a 19-4 lead which was never challenged. Overall, Juskin connected on five-of-12 from the field for 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the half as the Diplomats held a 47-20 halftime advantage. In the second half, Wright took over the pace of the game forcing the ball up court and pulling up for four three-pointers in four minutes for 12 of his points as the Diplomats steadily pulled away to hold a 40 point lead with 14 minutes left on the clock on their way to the 65-point victory. For the game, 13 of the Diplomats' 15 players scored points as the contest marked the most lopsided victory in F&M men's basketball history since Franklin & Marshall defeated Villa Julie 112-56 on November 21, 1997 in the first round of the 1997 S. Woodrow Sponaugle Basketball Classic in the Mayser Center. Mike Majzun led Bethany with 18 points on seven-of-14 shooting from the floor, while Matt Drahos pulled down a game high 12 rebounds to pace the Bison on the backboards. Overall, the Bison converted 31.6 percent of their field goal attempts (18-of-57), while F&M shot 34-of-69 (49.3%). In the second half, the Diplomats dominated Bethany converting 54.3 percent of their attempts (19-of-35), including six-of-10 from long range. The key to the game was turnovers as Bethany committed 30, including 10 by Josh Polantz, while the Diplomats committed 10. In addition, the Diplomats held a 15-to-2 advantage in steals and 6-to-3 margin in blocked shots as Juskin swatted three Bison scoring attempts to raise his season total to 17. Franklin & Marshall (5-1, 1-0 Centennial Conference) will return to action on December 22 when they play host to non-conference foe Hobart College. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Mayser Center.
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