Box Score
Host Franklin College jumped out to a nine-point halftime lead, and converted six-of-seven free throws in the last two minutes of the game to hold off the Mount today, 76-71. The Lions go to 13-4 overall, 8-2 in the HCAC and in first place. They will return to action on Jan. 28 when they host a conference game against Hanover College.
The Grizzlies led through the first six minutes of the game on Saturday afternoon, before Jordan Henry (Lexington, KY/Bryan Station) hit a three-pointer at 14:05 on the clock, giving the Lions a 16-14 lead. After a Franklin College three-pointer at 11:27, the Grizzlies went on an 8-0 run to grab control of the game's lead, 29-21. They would go on to hold a 46-37 advantage at the half, thanks to out-shooting the Mount, 62 to 56 percent from the field in the first half, and holding a 15-7 advantage on the boards. The Grizzlies also made eight-of-11 from the free throw line, to the Mount's three-of-four from the charity stripe.
Franklin would push the lead out to double-digits early in the second half, and would lead 62-54 at 10:15 when their defense applied the clamps on the Lions. The Mount would not score again until 6:44 left in the game - on two free throws by Mark Allen (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) - and would trail 64-56. Joel Scudder (Greendale, IN/South Dearborn) fired in a three-pointer with just under five minutes to play in the game, cutting the deficit to 66-62. Ken Kunkel (Cincinnati, OH/Colerain) added a three-pointer at 1:45 to cut the deficit to three, 68-65, but the Lions would get no closer. Allen hit two free throws to make the score, 72-69 with 24 seconds to play. Henry converted a lay-up with one second left for the final margin.
Scudder finished with 19 points, four rebounds and four steals while Femi Thompson (Cincinnati, OH/Aiken) added 18 points and a team-high six rebounds. Erik Edwards (Cincinnati, OH/Roger Bacon) chipped in 10 points and four rebounds off the bench.
