Diplomats Make It Three Straight

Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - James McNally and Mike Baker recorded 19 and 16 points, respectively to lead the Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team hold off Lebanon Valley 72-68 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.

Clay Scovill and Anthony Brooks each drained two free throws in the final 2:15 of the game to help the Diplomats (3-0) post their third straight win of the season and first victory over the Flying Dutchmen (1-3) in Lancaster since January 13, 2003.

Kyle Enoch tallied a game-high 24 points, draining three from behind the arc for Lebanon Valley. Dan Dunkelberger and Eric Humphrey were also in double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

McNally recorded seven rebounds and three blocks on the evening, while Baker scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half, including the first six of the game to give F&M a 42-37 lead at the break. The Diplomats took their five-point lead and turned it into 11 with a 6-0 run to start the second half.

McNally hit two baskets in the paint and Brooks drained a jumper for six quick points and a 48-37 advantage with just 1:15 gone to force a Flying Dutchmen timeout. The double-digit lead would slowly diminish throughout the final stanza thanks to a 9-0 spurt by Lebanon Valley to make it 56-55 with 8:50 to play.

McNally made two from the charity stripe to end a six minute scoring draught and then scored a layup off a turnover to push the lead to 60-55 at the 8:17 mark.

The Flying Dutchmen made it a two-point game on two occasions down the stretch, but it was the free-throw shooting from Scovill and Brooks along with a crucial steal by the sophomore guard with 16 seconds left to secure the win.

Steve Tolliver scored a career-high 10 points and Brooks handed out a career-best six assists for F&M.

The Diplomats are back in action on Saturday at Juniata. Game time is 7:30 p.m.