LANCASTER, Pa. – Sophomore guard Danny Frauenheim (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach) was named the Tournament MVP while junior guard Matt LaCorte (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) earned All-Tournament Team honors in leading the Susquehanna University men's basketball team to the tournament title Monday afternoon at the Sponaugle New Year's Tournament hosted by Franklin & Marshall College. Susquehanna (8-3) held off host Franklin & Marshall (4-6), 77-69, for its second tournament title of the season.
 
Susquehanna 77, Franklin & Marshall 69
 
How It Happened
First Half

• The River Hawks opened up a nine-point lead at 15:29 as Susquehanna made six of its eight shots, including hitting 4-of-5 from downtown. LaCorte put up eight points in SU's 16-7 advantage.
• Franklin & Marshall responded with an 11-0 run to claim its first lead since starting the game with a 3-0 margin.
• Sophomore center Wes Simons (Jefferson Township, Pa./Scranton Prep) broke a 20-20 draw with a layup at 7:54, sparking a 10-2 run over the next two minutes.
• The Diplomats kept pace but Susquehanna carried a 41-37 advantage into halftime.

 
Halftime

• Both sides had hot hands as F&M posted a 59.1-field goal percentage (13-of-22) compared to the River Hawks' 56.7-percent (17-of-30).
• Susquehanna fared better from downtown, making 4-of-7 three-pointers, while the Diplomats were 1-of-4.
• However, F&M went to the line 18 times and made 10 free throws in comparison to 3-for-4 for the River Hawks.
• Frauenheim led all scorers with 11 points while LaCorte and Ignas Slyka each had 10.

 
Second Half

• LaCorte hit his third three-pointer of the game to begin the second half and stretch his team's lead to seven, however, the Diplomats outscored the visitors, 9-7, in the first three minutes to close the gap to 48-46.
• Another LaCorte triple ignited a 16-4 run over a seven-minute span to give Susquehanna its biggest lead of the game, 64-50, at 9:22.
• Franklin & Marshall worked its way back to a five-point deficit with a minute left in the game but the River Hawks sealed the win with a 7-for-8 effort at the charity stripe.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Susquehanna picked the Diplomats' pockets a season-best 17 times, forcing the hosts into 22 turnovers.
• The River Hawks capitalized off F&M's turnovers with 27 points while the Diplomats only notched eight points off 22 SU miscues.
• SU also scored 11 second chance points while Franklin & Marshall had none.
• Susquehanna shot a season second-best 52.7-percent from the field.
• Today's contest marked the eighth time this season that the River Hawks have outrebounded their opponent with a 28-23 rebounding margin in the title game.
• Susquehanna is now 11-20 against the Diplomats following today's victory, marking the River Hawks' first win over F&M since a 91-75 win on January 6, 2000 and snapping a two-game skid.

 
Top Performers

• LaCorte led the team with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4-of-8 from downtown, while adding three rebounds.
• Frauenheim finished with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including one triple, plus 4-of-4 from the line. He also added five assists.
• Simons scored in double-figures for the second straight game as he matched his career-high of 14 points, knocking down a career-best seven field goals in 11 attempts.
• Justin Kupa paced the hosts with a game-best 26 points while Slyka ended with 11.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Jan. 4 at Wilkes (6-3) – Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Marts Center – 1:00 p.m.

 
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