Jan. 31, 2007

Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Joe Spierenburg's lay-up with 4.2 ticks on the clock capped a career night for Gettysburg's sophomore and delivered the Bullets their first win over Franklin & Marshall since the 2001-02 season. Spierenburg dumped in a career-high 21 points, scoring 15 in the second half, with the final pair making it the 67-66 final. The bucket capped a furious Gettysburg comeback that erased a deficit of 17 points.

Franklin & Marshall grabbed a lead inside of the game's second minute, and did not relinquish it until 19:30 had run off of the clock in the second -half. Dan Capkin's three-pointer, Gettysburg's seventh of the second half, gave the Bullets their second lead of the night, 65-64.

Derek Hines dumped in the last pair of his 26 points at the other end 16 seconds later to give the one-point edge back to Franklin & Marshall, but Spierenburg accounted for the fourth and final lead change of the game with five seconds left. Brandon Chasen's buzzer-beater was to no avail, leaving Franklin & Marshall with its fifth loss by six points or less in its last six games.

The Diplomats held a 17 -point lead, 50-33, with 12:37 left in the contest, but four three-pointers on the next four possessions quickly cut it to a seven-point game. Corey Dorsey's back-to-back treys sparked the run as Gettysburg outscored Franklin & Marshall 34-16 down to the wire. Dorsey finished the game with 18 points, all coming in the second half.

In addition to his last second heroics, Spierenburg hauled in seven rebounds and blocked five shots.

Hines shot 12-21 from the field for Franklin & Marshall to get to 26 points on the night. He had a game-high nine rebounds as well. Adam Leonard scored 16 points, netting 11 in the first half.

Franklin & Marshall falls to 7-13 (6-7 CC), while the Bullets improve to 8-11(6-7 CC). The Diplomats return to action on Saturday at Muhlenberg.