Box Score LANCASTER (PA) – The Delaware Valley University men's basketball team took on host Franklin and Marshall College in the opening round of the Sponaugle New Year's Tournament, but fell, 72-60, on Saturday.
The Aggies fell to 6-5 overall while the Diplomats improved to 7-3. DelVal will play Keene State in the consolation game tomorrow at 1 p.m. and F&M will play Rowan University for the tournament championship at 3 p.m. The Profs defeated the Owls, 87-79.
DelVal trailed 19-10 with 9:40 left in the first half, but used a 9-1 run over the next 3:10 to pull within one. The Aggies continued to rally and tied the score at 30-30, but a Mike Rice 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer gave the Diplomats a 33-30 lead at the break.
Lybrant Robinson and
Mike Cianciulli led the team at the break with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
F&M scored the first five points of the second half to extend its lead to eight, 38-30. The advantage ballooned to 54-39 with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation, and the Diplomats led by as many as 16 twice before securing the 72-60 victory.
Robinson finished with a team-high 16 points and added four boards while
Andre' Butler notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to go with two steals. Cianciulli pitched in 12 points and a pair of steals and
Alex Matsinye had six points, six boards, and two assists.
J.C. McGrath paced the Diplomats with a game-high 19 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots. Justin Kupa and Matt Redhead each scored 17 points and Redhead added eight rebounds and two steals. Ignas Slyka grabbed a team-best nine rebounds and dished out five assists.
