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LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall College forward Frank Hughes (Sr., Annapolis, MD/US Naval Academy) shot six-of-nine from the floor and six-of-eight at the line for a career high 18-points as the #20 nationally ranked Diplomats survived a scare to hold off Lebanon Valley College, 75-70. Franklin & Marshall struggled in the first half committing 13 turnovers and shooting 12-of-27 from the field (44.4 percent) as Lebanon Valley's J.D. Byers drained five-of-seven, including three-of-four from three point range, for 13 first half points as the Dutchmen carried a 30-26 lead into halftime. The game started slowly as LVC reeled off a 8-0 run from 16:28 to 12:07 to lead F&M 12-5. The Diplomats responded with an 8-0 run of their own behind back-to-back jumpers from center Steve Juskin (Jr., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) to take a 13-12 lead. After the two teams exchanged field goals, guard Duran Searles (Jr., Camden, NJ/Peddie School) arched a three-pointer through the twine for an 18-14 lead with 8:04 left on the clock in the first half. However, LVC countered with an 11-0 run to put the Diplomats behind 25-18 with 3:52 on the clock. The Diplomats closed the half with back-to-back baskets by Hughes and Juskin to enter the half down by four. In the second half, the Diplomats fired out to a 31-30 lead as Hughes added a basket and foul shot and Juskin hit a jumper from inside the arc. The two teams exchanged three-pointers as Jackiem Wright (Jr., Sicklerville, NJ/Moorestown Friends) and David Kasyan stroked in shots, before the Dutchmen engineered a 10-4 rally to take a 43-39 lead with 15:41 left in the game. The Diplomats chipped away at the lead as Hughes converted a pair of free throws and guard/forward Asaf Ganot (Sr., Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) canned a three-pointer for a 44-43 lead. LVC's Evan Harlow answered with a three as the Dutchmen retook the lead at 46-44 with 13:40 on the clock. Lebanon Valley pushed the lead to five at 50-45, but F&M fought back with a pair of free-throws by Bob Lynch (So., Richboro, PA/Council Rock), a jumper by Juskin and a lay-up by guard Brandon Smith (Fr., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) to retake the lead at 51-50 at the 10:20 mark. Byers drove to the basket and laid in the go-ahead points for a 52-51 lead, but Lynch made three-of-four free throws to give F&M a 54-52 lead with 8:40 left. The teams scored and countered each other over the next two minutes before Byers stroked a three-pointer to five LVC a 61-58 lead. The Diplomats countered again as Hughes made a pair of free throws and Wright added one-of-two for a 61-61 tie with 5:22 on the clock. It marked the last time LVC was tied or led F&M as Hughes and Wright's shots ignited a 7-0 run capped by a pair of foul-shots and a fast-break lay-up by Searles for a 65-61 lead. LVC cut the lead to three off a one-of-two performance by Harlow at the free-throw line, but Hughes punched through the Dutchmen forwards for a lay-in and a 67-62 lead with 3:33 left in the game. Ahead 73-67, F&M survived a last minute scare as Harlow arched in a three-pointer with 13 seconds left to cut the lead to three. Following a timeout and a foul, Searles made two foul shots to seal the game as the Dutchmen's last second shot by Harlow bounced off the rim and over the backboard as the Diplomats earned their 12th straight victory. Overall, Hughes took over the game in the second half with 12 points and five rebounds as the Diplomats out-rebounded LVC 21-11 in the last 20 minutes of the game. On the offensive boards, F&M out-muscled Lebanon Valley for a 12-2 advantage and shot 21-of-26 from the line, while holding LVC to seven-of-12 at the charity stripe and 11 total rebounds. For the game, F&M held advantages in field goals (25-24), free-throws (21-11), free throw attempts (27-18), offensive rebounds (16-6), defensive rebounds (22-21), total rebounds (38-27) and steals (13-7) to improve to 78-62 all-time against Lebanon Valley. Juskin, Searles and Ganot were key in F&M's victory as the trio scored 16, 11 and eight points, while Ganot pulled down a game high nine rebounds. For LVC, Byers finished the game with 26 points off nine-of-13 from the floor, five-of-eight from long range, and a team high six rebounds. Franklin & Marshall (12-1, 2-0 Centennial Conference) will return to action on January 15 when they play host to Centennial Conference foe Ursinus College. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Mayser Center.
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