January 16, 2010

Game 21 v Muhlenberg Notes

saturday's game: 4:00 p.m. (weather permitting) at the mayser center, lancaster, pa.

log on to GoDiplomats.com for up-to-date schedule changes.

muhlenberg (12-8, 10-3 CC) at #15 franklin & marshall (17-3, 11-2 CC)

the vitals
F&M leads, 68-58

a little history

Franklin & Marshall and Muhlenberg are meeting for the 127th time since the series began in 1903. The Diplomats hold a 68-58 edge against the Mules. F&M has won the last four meeting including a 80-58 win in December.

last time out

Anthony Brooks’ dunk to open the game set a tone that was tested, but never wavered, as #15 Franklin & Marshall defeated Ursinus 70-62 in a Centennial Conference (CC) showdown. The game featured the top-two teams in the CC with the Diplomats taking a two-game advantage in the standings with the win.

F&M (17-3, 11-2 CC) dominated majority of the game, leading wire-to-wire, and held a 57-45 advantage with 6:38 left in the game. Ursinus (13-7, 9-4 CC) answered, scoring nine unanswered to bring to the game within three points. The Diplomats countered with a 6-1 run to take a 63-55 edge with 3:06 showing on the clock.

After both teams traded buckets, Matt Hilton drilled a trey with 30 seconds left making the score 66-62. Brooks scored four of his 19 points from the line in the final 24 seconds to secure the win. He finished the night shooting 60% from the floor and 7-for-8 from the stripe.

The Diplomats came into the game with the second ranked defense in the country and they lived up to that billing. F&M caused 21 turnovers, resulting in 21 points, and blocked six shots while limiting the Bears to 42% shooting from the field.

defense

The Diplomats may be known for their offense, scoring 70.9 points a game, but its their defense the ranks high in the nation. F&M currently ranks second in the country in scoring defense, allowing only 56.2 points a game. They also ranked third in blocked shots with 5.9 a contest.

robinson watch

Coach Robinson is now seven wins from tying Lute Olson in the 14th spot on the all-time coaching wins list. Robinson currently ranks 16th with 773 wins Olson holds the 14th position with 780 victories.

playoffs

F&M clinched a playoff berth in the CC with a win over Ursinus on Wednesday.

word on muhlenberg

last time out

Spencer Liddic scored a career-high 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting and pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds to lead the Mules to a 64-50 win. He finished one rebound shy of what would have been just the ninth 20-rebound game in Centennial Conference history.

“I’m very thrilled with the game the team had and the game I had,” said Liddic. “It was a great win for us.”

It was, indeed, because with first-place Franklin & Marshall taking on second-place Ursinus, Muhlenberg (12-8, 10-3) knew a win would either bring it back into a tie for first or give it sole possession of second. F&M held off the Bears, 70-62, meaning the Mules are back alone in second with a chance to pull even with the Diplomats on Saturday.

While that showdown should be exciting, about the only drama there was in this game was when Liddic pulled down a rebound late in the game and went down to the floor with an apparent injury. He left the floor but returned shortly thereafter.

last time we met

Anthony Brooks scored a career-high 22 points to lead # 11 Franklin & Marshall to an 80-58 win over Muhlenberg.

Muhlenberg drops its first CC game with the loss while the win marks the Diplomats sixth-straight victory and puts them in first place in the conference.

The Diplomats led wire-to-wire, opening the game on a 10-2 run. Muhlenberg came within three points midway through the first half, before F&M went on a 22-11 run to end the stanza. The Diplomats took a 38-24 lead into the locker room.

F&M picked up where it left off in the first period, starting the second half on a 16-5 run to lead by 25 points. The Mules were able to come within 16 points, but F&M’s offense was too much to handle.