LANCASTER, Pa. – The Swarthmore College men's basketball team was unable to hold on to a halftime lead and suffered a 70-55 setback at Franklin and Marshall College in Centennial Conference action on Saturday.
 
The Garnet were ahead 32-20 at the break but the Diplomats rallied in the second half, shooting 55.0% in the period while limiting Swarthmore to just 27.6% from the floor. Vinny DeAngelo and Eddie Paquette paced the Garnet with 11 points apiece.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore controlled the opening half, winning the rebound battle 23-11 and holding F&M to just 30.0% shooting (6-of-20). The Garnet got out to a 14-1 lead over the first eight minutes. Four different players scored for Swarthmore led by DeAngelo's five.
 
- The Diplomats came back with seven of the next nine to get within eight (16-8) but the Garnet put together an 8-1 run in response to lead by 15 (24-9). Brady Kageyama tallied five points and Michael Caprise added three.
 
- After four points by the Diplomats, Swarthmore posted six of seven for its largest lead of the game (30-14) with 2:58 on the clock. The margin dropped to 12 (32-20) by halftime.
 
- In the second half, the Garnet held an 11-point advantage (36-25) at the 16:51 mark. F&M then went off for 12 straight points as part of a 15-2 surge to go ahead 40-38 with 12:59 to go. The host hit all five of its shots, including two from beyond the arc.
 
- Caprise and Paquette made back-to-back layups to put Swarthmore in front again, 42-40. However, the Diplomats answered with a 16-4 rally to go on top for good. Ten of their 16 points came at the foul line. Trailing by 10 (56-46) with 5:11 remaining, the Garnet netted six of seven to close the gap to five (57-52) but F&M closed it out at the stripe down the stretch.
 
GARNET LEADERS
Points: DeAngelo, Paquette 11
Rebounds: Aidan Godfrey 9
Assists: DeAngelo 5
Steals: Caleb Aurelien 2
 
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (8-7, 5-3 Centennial) visits rival Haverford College on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. conference game.