HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball got off to a tough start against No. 21 Franklin & Marshall but hung tough against the nationally-ranked Diplomats all afternoon despite an early deficit, eventually falling 79-68.
Three different Fords reached double figures in the comeback bid. Kahlil Garnes led the way with 18 points, while Joe Scibelli (12 points) and Michael Wiper (11 points) also reached double figures. Jonathan Lang just missed that mark with nine points as the visiting Diplomats had four players record double figure scoring games.
Franklin & Marshall jumped in front early with the first 10 points of the game and held its largest lead of the afternoon, 27-8, with 7:42 to play in the opening half. Haverford outscored the Diplomats 60-52 from that point on, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit. Facing its largest deficit, the Fords regrouped and cut the lead to 10 points, 35-25, with 2:26 remaining in the opening half as Wiper got loose in the paint. The Fords closed the first half on a 6-0 run, the last five of which came from Garnes, and trailed just 39-31 after 20 minutes of play.
Haverford kept the contest right around a 10 point difference for the majority of the second half. The lone exception came when the Diplomats ran off seven straight points to go up 60-43 with 10:36 left in regulation. However, the Fords once again fought their way back into the game and answered with a 7-0 run of their own to set the score at 64-54 with 6:25 to play. The Fords withered their deficit down to single digits late in the second half as Scibelli converted an old fashioned three-point play with just over a minute to play. Nevertheless, F&M continued to make its free throws down the stretch to claim a 79-68 victory.
The Fords finished the game with a 36-33 advantage in rebounding as Wiper (eight rebounds) and Scibelli (seven rebounds) set the tone in that regard. Haverford also dished out 17 assists on its 23 field goals with Kyle Goldfarb's five dimes setting the standard.
Men's basketball will be back at home next Thursday for its second game of the season against Ursinus. That game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. tip and will follow the women's game against the Bears that is scheduled for 6 p.m. Halftime of the men's game against Ursinus will also be the time the Haverford College athletic department holds its annual Senior Athlete Varsity Blanket Ceremony. The Fords will be on the road at Dickinson next Saturday after wrapping up its three-game home stretch.