Box Score
(Lancaster, Pa.) – The #11-ranked Dickinson men's basketball team suffered a 69-53 setback in the regular season finale at Franklin & Marshall on Saturday. The Diplomats got off to a strong start and the Red Devils were unable to rally end in the end. The teams will square-off again in just six days, meeting in the Centennial Conference semifinals at Johns Hopkins on Friday night.
It took almost three minutes, but the Red Devils struck first as Brandon Angradi (Milford, Del./Delaware Valley) fed Steve Collins (Rydal, Pa./La Salle College) for an easy lay-up inside.
The Diplomats countered with a pair of baskets inside to lead 4-2, with just under 16 minutes remaining. Senior Gerry Wixted (Moorestown, N.J./Camden Catholic) tied the game with a pair of free throws at the 14:25 mark.
Brandon Federicci sandwiched a pair of free throws and a pair of lay-ups around a three-pointer from Angradi to put F&M in front, 10-7. Angradi hit from the top of the arc, off a great feed from first-year Moses Romacki (Creedmoore, N.C./Cardinal Gibbons).
Wixted knocked down a three-pointer to knot the game at the 11 minute mark. Morgan Lee missed a pair of free throws and drew another foul on the next possession. He hit both this time to trigger an 10-0 run for F&M. Lee closed out the run with a chance for another three-point play, but could not convert the free throw.
Wixted drove the basket and completed a three-point play for the Devils, but Lee answered to give the Diplomats a 22-13 lead, with seven minutes to play in the half. Devin Figueroa knocked down a three-pointer for a 25-13 advantage.
Hunter Eggers scored back-to-back field-goals around a basket from Wixted to keep F&M out in front, 29-15. Angradi hit a baseline jumper and cleared the boards on the defensive end.
Morgan Lee banked home a short jumper to give him 10 points and the Diplomats a 31-17 lead. Wixted scored off a well run out of bounds play and Federicci missed three straight three-point attempts and picked-up a pair of fouls.
Wixted sank a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 10. He countered a pair of F&M free throws with a baby hook to make the score 33-23, at the break. Wixted led the way with 16 points while Lee and Figueroa combined for 19 to lead the hosts.
Matt Tate hit a three-pointer to open the second half. Angradi and Wixted combined for four free throws before F&M answered, stretching the lead to 46-31, in the opening five minutes.
Angradi knocked-down a three-pointer with 12:57 remaining as the Devils looked to find some rhythm on the offensive end. Wixted scored his 21st point with a free throw and Lee hit twice to give the hosts a 50-35 lead at the midpoint of the half.
Figueroa hit a three from the wing to stretch the margin to 18. Pete Yingst (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) hit two free throws and Ted Hinnenkamp (York, Pa./York Suburban) scored on a nice move in the paint and added a pair of free throws as well, as Dickinson tried to claw back into the game.
Angradi hit a three-pointer, scoring off a rebound and assist from Chris Cox (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West), cutting the lead to 54-44, with six minutes to play.
The Devils tried to cut into the lead with three-pointers, but couldn't find the mark. Romocki made a nice baseline drive to pull Dickinson within 11. The Diplomats hit three free throws to lead, 62-48.
Wixted tacked on a pair of free throws and Yingst buried a three-pointer but the Red Devils would come up on the short end, falling 69-53.
Wixted had another strong outing, scoring a game-high 25 points, hitting 12-of-13 free throws on the day. He had a double-double, adding 10 rebounds. Angradi reached double-figures with 13 points, controlling five rebounds. Cox pulled down seven rebounds.
Lee led the Diplomats (20-5, 13-5 CC) with 20 points and seven rebounds. Eggers controlled 10 rebounds and had five assists to go with six points.
The Red Devils slip to 20-5 overall and finish 13-5 in the Centennial Conference. They will face the Diplomats again on Friday, in the conference semifinals at host Johns Hopkins University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
