Juskin Scores 22 Points as Men's Basketball Sinks Swarthmore, 62-45

by Sports Information
2/8/03

LANCASTER, PA - Center Steve Juskin (Jr., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) shot 10-of-20 from the field and two-of-three from the line for a game high 22 points as the Franklin & Marshall College men's basketball team handled Swarthmore College in Centennial Conference action, 62-45.

Down 15-6 eight minutes into the game following a three-pointer by the Garnet's David Pearce, the Diplomats rattled off an 8-0 run to pull within one before unleashing a 16-10 spurt behind eight points from point guard Duran Searles (Jr., Camden, NJ/Peddie School) as F&M took a 30-25 lead into halftime.

After intermission, Swarthmore's Blair Haxel dropped in a field goal to cut the lead three, but a pair of free-throws by forward Frank Hughes (Sr., Annapolis, MD/US Naval Academy), three field goals by Juskin and a bucket and foul shot by Searles pushed the lead to 41-27 as Swarthmore failed to cut the lead to less than 11 the rest of the way.

For the Diplomats, Searles finished with 14 points while Hughes dropped in five points and pulled down 10 rebounds, including seven offensive boards.

Guard/forward Asaf Ganot (Sr., Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) chipped in six points, a game high 11 boards, including nine defensive boards, and two steals.

A key to the game was F&M's defensive stance in the second half as the Diplomats limited Swarthmore to six-of-26 shooting as the Garnet finished the game with 17 field goals on 53 attempts. For Franklin & Marshall, the Diplomats hit 12-of-27 in the second half, 25-of-53 in the game, to outscore Swarthmore 32-20 in the second half.

For Swarthmore, Matt Gustafson connected on seven-of-22 from the floor and two-of-two at the foul line for 20 points, while Haxel drained six-of-11 for 12 points with a team high seven rebounds.

Overall, F&M dominated on the backboards collecting 42 rebounds to Swarthmore's 28, including a 27-16 advantage on the defensive glass.

Franklin & Marshall (18-3, 7-2 Centennial Conference) will return to action on February 12 at Gettysburg College in a showdown for first place in the Centennial Conference Western Division. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.