F&M Ranked #1 in February 11 NCAA Men's Basketball Mid-Atlantic Region Poll

by Sports Information
2/12/04

LANCASTER, PA -- The Franklin & Marshall College men's basketball team is ranked first in the February 11 NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll.

Ranked #18 in the February 10 D3hoops.com and 15th in the February 12th Lazindex.com national polls, the Diplomats are the only Centennial Conference team ranked in the region as the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference's Alvernia (#2) and Gwynedd Mercy (#3), Middle Atlantic Corporation's DeSales (#5) and Elizabethtown (#6) and Capital Athletic Conference's Mary Washington (#4) round out the region's top five.

One of the most successful programs in the history of NCAA Division III basketball with a record of 1,116-791, Franklin & Marshall is off to an 18-3 start, including a 13-1 mark in Centennial Conference play.

Leading the team last week was forward Bobby Lynch (Jr., Richboro, PA/Council Rock) who averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds as the Diplomats defeated Gettysburg (68-56 W), but fell at Ursinus (104-92 L) for the team's first Centennial Conference loss of the season.

Against Ursinus, he tallied 23 points, 10 rebounds and two assists to raise his season numbers to a team best 327 points (16.4 ppg) and 138 rebounds (6.9 rpg).

In the latest Centennial Conference statistics, he ranks among the CC leaders in scoring (16.4 ppg, fifth), rebounding (6.9 rpg, fifth), field goal percentage (.605, third), free throw percentage (.776, 14th), blocked shots (.095 bpg, sixth), offensive rebounds (3.25 rpg, second), defensive rebounds (3.65 rpg, 14th) and double-doubles (five, second)

Individually the Diplomats starting "five" appear a top the conference as point guard Duran Searles (Sr., Camden, NJ/Peddie School) is ranked in scoring (12.0 ppg, 16th), field goal percentage (.497, 12th), assists (3.45 apg, fifth), steals (1.75 spg, fourth), three-point field goal percentage (.402, eighth), three-point field goals made (1.95 pg, eighth) and assist/turnover ratio (1.57, fourth).

On the wing, guard Jackiem Wright (Sr., Sicklerville, NJ/Moorestown Friends) ranks in scoring (12.0 ppg, 16th), steals (1.45 spg, 10th), three-point field goal percentage (.358, 15th), three-point field goals made (2.45 pg, fourth).

Down low, forward/guard Brandon Smith (So., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) ranks in scoring (12.0 ppg, 16th), rebounding (5.9 rpg, 12th), steals (1.95 spg, second), three-point field goal percentage (.363, 14th), three-point field goals made (1.45 pg, 14th), blocked shots (0.70 bpg, 12th), offensive rebounds (1.95 rpg, ninth) and defensive rebounds (4.00 rpg, 12th), while center Steve Juskin (Sr., East Hanover, NJ/Hanover Park) ranks in scoring (14.8 ppg, 10th), rebounding (6.6 rpg, seventh), field goal percentage (.526, eighth), assists (3.80 apg, fourth), blocked shots (3.80 bpg, first), assist/turnover ratio (1.29, seventh), offensive rebounds (2.05 rpg, eighth) and defensive rebounds (4.50, eighth).

Off the bench, reserve point guard Logan Outerbridge (Fr., Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) has been dynamite for the Diplomats leading the Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.465, first) as he has hit 20-of-43 attempts in 246 minutes.

On the sidelines, history should be made this week as head coach Glenn Robinson defeated Dickinson College on February 11 to tie longtime Illinois Wesleyan head coach Dennie Bridges for the all-time Division III men's basketball record for most career victories.

Robinson, who now holds a career record of 666-234, is the active leader in wins in NCAA Division III men's basketball. However, with another victory he will surpass Bridges' career total of 666 wins from 1960 to 2001 at Illinois Wesleyan and become the all-time win leader on the Division III level.

Historically, he is one of only 41 coaches in collegiate basketball history to have won 600 games entering the 2004 season, led by Dean Smith with 897. Last week, Robinson surpassed legendary UCLA coach John Wooden (664-162) for 25th on the all-time NCAA wins list.

The Diplomats will return to action on February 14 at home versus Muhlenberg College. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. in the Mayser Center.

The NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Basketball Polls are available online at www.ncaa.org/polls/m_w_basketball.html

2004 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball
Middle Atlantic Region Poll (Region Record/Overall Record)
1. Franklin & Marshall (15-3/18-3)
2. Alvernia (15-3/16-4)
3. Gwynedd Mercy (15-2/18-2)
4. Mary Washington (12-2/15-6)
5. DeSales (14-3/17-3)
6. Elizabethtown (10-5/13-7)