Turner Returns, F&M Dips Out With Overtime Win
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Franklin & Marshall out-scored hometown Swarthmore 13-7 in overtime, slipping out of Tarble Pavilion with a 78-72 Centennial victory Wednesday evening.
Swarthmore (3-8 overall, 0-5 CC) saw the spirited return of sophomore forward Matt Turner (Audubon, Pa. / Germantown Academy), back from an early-season hand injury. Turner (pictured above) missed just one shot all night, scoring a career-high 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Garnet senior center Ian McCormick (Seattle, Wash. / University Prep) fought through foul trouble, tallying 20 points to go along with seven boards, two blocks and two steals.
Swarthmore senior forward Steve Wolf (Philadelphia, Pa. / Father Judge) posted his second double-double in three games (third of the season) with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Diplomats, led by 15 points from freshman forward Mike Baker (Maryland Heights, Mo. / Whitfield School), improved to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in the Centennial. Freshman Chris Sullivan (Columbus, Ohio / Upper Arlington) hit 7-of-8 from the line for 12 points while sophomore Mitch Ryner (State College, Pa. / State College) also contributed 12 markers. Freshman forward James McNally (Bridgewater, N.J. / Bridgewater-Raritan) added 11 points, a team-high seven rebounds and two steals.
The Diplomats led for the first ten minutes of the second half, before the Garnet erased a seven-point deficit with 10-3 run. The scoreboard read 54-all after Swarthmore freshman forward Sam Lacy (Jericho, Vt. / Jericho) popped in a three-pointer from the top of the circle at 8:33.
An offensive put-back by Turner at 7:37 put Swarthmore ahead briefly. F&M reeled off a 6-2 spurt to go back ahead, 63-58 following a Rhyner three-pointer at 4:02.
McCormick scored on consecutive possessions for Swarthmore and classmate Matt Kurman (Rockville, Mary. / Walter Johnson) put the hometeam in front, 65-63 at 2:22, by sinking a deep three-pointer right out of a Garnet time-out.
F&M’s Clay Scovill (Lititz, Pa. / Manheim Twp.) made a twisting lay-up in traffic to tie the game, 65-65, with 1:10 to play.
The Garnet used a time-out on the final possession to set up a potential game-winner with 13 second left in regulation. Swarthmore brought the ball back to their big man in the middle but a quick F&M double-team made a clean look hard to come by. McCormick’s jumper from the left block hit both sides of the rim before falling harmlessly to the floor, the buzzer signaling five more minutes of action.
Rhyner set the tone in the overtime, drilling a three-pointer with 4:44 left and the Diplomats made 8-of-10 from the free throw line to end a three-game losing streak to Swarthmore.
Baker set the tone early on for the visitors, turning a solid jump hook into eight first-half points. The Diplomats built a nine-point lead towards the end of the first half, holding a 30-21 lead after a jumper by sophomore forward Daniel Selig (Silver Spring, Mary. / Washington International) at 4:26.
Turner, out of action for the last seven games, showed little rust in helping the Garnet cut into the Dips’ lead. The rangy sophomore finished off a feed from Wolf at the four-minute mark and then stopped on a dime to drop in a three-pointer in transition. He nailed another deep jumper while getting fouled at 1:42 and sank the ensuing free throw to get Swarthmore within three, 35-32.
A pair of Scovill free throws sent F&M in to the locker room with a 37-32 lead.
Turner led all scorers with 10 points at halftime, while Swarthmore held a slight edge on the glass (16-15).
The Garnet hit the road this Saturday, Jan. 12, heading to Carlisle, Pa. for a 4:00 p.m. Centennial match-up with Dickinson College.