Men's Basketball Captures Tip-Off Title

Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - James McNally was one of three players with 17 points to earn MVP honors and lead the Franklin & Marshall men's basketball team to 2008 Rotary Tip-Off Tournament championship with a 79-55 win over Mary Washington on Saturday night.

Georgio Milligan and Clay Scovill also contributed 17 points to help the Diplomats (2-0) capture the tournament title for the first time since 2005 an post their second straight win to open the season. Milligan was also named to the All-Tournament team for F&M.

McNally went 6-for-9 from the floor, grabbed eight rebounds and four steals, while Mike Baker pulled down a game-high 11 boards. Anthony Brooks was the fourth player in double figures with 12 points, scoring 10 in the second half.

Kiernan Whitworth led the Eagles (1-1) with 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

The Diplomats outscored Mary Washington 50-23 in the final stanza to a three-point halftime deficit and bring the championship trophy back to Lancaster.

F&M opened the second half on a 21-4 run to take the lead for good at 50-38 with 9:03 left to play. McNally sandwiched one of two free throws and a layup in between a Scovill layup to knot the game at 34-all. Scovill knocked down a triple to take a one-point edge that would not relinquish.

Brooks and Steve Tolliver exchanged baskets and McNally made another jumper, before Scovill added five more points for a 12-point lead. The Diplomats led by as much as 26 points thanks to key free-throw shooting down the stretch to secure the win.

The Eagles jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the first 4:31 of the opening half behind two three points by Ben Stokes. F&M fought its way back with a 15-0 run to take a 21-15 edge at the 8:59 mark. Milligan started the comeback with a pull-up jumper from the top charity stripe and McNally knotted the game at 15-all with a basket in the paint.

Baker and Scovill each hit a layup, while Milligan and Danny Selig each went 1-for-2 from the line for the six-point lead. Mary Washington tied the game for the fifth time in the half at 27-all with a layup by Ahmed and converted two from the line, while getting a layup from Matt Hale for a 32-29 lead at halftime.

The Diplomats return to action on Tuesday against Lebanon Valley. Game time is 8 p.m.