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LANCASTER, PA - Center Steve Juskin (Jr., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) scored 17 points and point guard Duran Searles (Jr., Camden, NJ/Peddie School) added 16 as the #20 nationally ranked Franklin & Marshall College Diplomats improved to 9-1 with an 82-49 win over Goucher College. Juskin shot seven-of-11 from the field, pulled down six rebounds and blocked five shots to key a Diplomat offense which shot 48.4 percent from the floor (31-of-36), while holding the Gophers to 38 percent (19-of-50). Goucher's shooting performance marked the second fewest field goals and attempts allowed by the Diplomats this season as F&M permitted 18 field goals versus Bethany and 47 attempts against Methodist. Further, the Diplomats held Goucher to a 27 rebounds, seven assists and no blocked shots, all opponent season lows versus Franklin & Marshal. In addition, the Diplomats held the Gophers to 0-for-five from beyond the three-point arch as F&M opponents' are shooting 0-for-17 streak following an 0-for-12 performance by Lincoln University in the title game of the Rotary Tip-Off the New Year Tournament. At the free-throw line, F&M converted 16-of-19 for a season best 84.2 percentage from the charity stripe. Overall, the Diplomats never trailed in the game as F&M opened a 21-12 lead ten minutes into the contest. The lead expanded to 29-16 as Franklin & Marshall held the Gophers scoreless for four minutes. F&M closed the half 15-9 run, including a 9-3 advantage in the final two minutes, to hold a 42-25 lead at intermission. In the second half, Goucher cut the F&M lead to 58-45 with 8:46 left to play, but the Diplomats closed the game with a 24-to-four run while holding the Gophers scoreless from the eight minute mark until Pierre Jones made one-of-two free-throws for a 77-47 score. Guard/forward Asaf Ganot (Sr., Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) chipped in a game high nine rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots, while guard Jackiem Wright (Jr., Sicklerville, NJ/Moorestown Friends) added eight points and three assists. Off the bench, guard Brandon Smith (Fr., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) and forward Bob Lynch (So., Richboro, PA/Council Rock) added 10 and 15 points, respectively, as F&M improved to 7-1 at home. Jones led Goucher with 16 points and five rebounds as the Gophers fall to 7-4. The key to the game was turnovers as Goucher committed 28, including five by Jones, while the Diplomats committed 23. In addition, the Diplomats held a 10-0 advantage in blocked shots, including eight by Juskin as the junior center now has 38 on the season to lead his team and the Centennial Conference. Franklin & Marshall (9-1, 1-0 Centennial Conference) will return to action on January 9 at Alvernia College. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Reading, Pennsylvania.
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