HAVERFORD, Pa. – A solid start by the Haverford College men's basketball team gave the home team an early lead but the nationally-ranked Diplomats from Franklin & Marshall College finally overcame a game Fords squad then pulled away for a 58-42 Centennial Conference victory Saturday afternoon in Gooding Arena.

Haverford, (5-11, 3-7 CC) tallied the game's initial 10 points holding No. 11 F&M (14-3, 8-2 CC) off the scoreboard until the 16:18 mark in the first half.

The Dips climbed steadily back into the game then nabbed their first lead at 18-17 with 3:01 to play and held a six point lead approaching the buzzer before a Doug Edelman layup trimmed the deficit to 25-21 entering the break.

The four-point halftime margin would be as close as the Fords would come during second half action as the Dips lengthened their lead to double-digits after Sam Permutt's layup made the score 29-25.

Haverford held the high-flying Diplomats offense to 14 points below their season average, but F&M was able to build their lead off of free throws and points off of turnovers.

The Dips forced 16 Haverford miscues and outscored the hosts 14-3 in points off turnovers. The visitors also made 15-of-20 from the free throw line outscoring the Fords by seven from the stripe.

Neither team's offense easily solved the defenses they were facing as F&M hit only 34 percent from the floor while the Fords hit 33 percent of their shots.

The teams were fairly even in rebounding as well with the Dips edging Haverford by only a 40-37 margin in the game.

Doug Edelman did more than his part on the glass for Haverford pulling down a game-high 18 boards while also completing the double-double with a team-leading 13 points. Sam Permutt also hit for double-figures with 10 points on the day.

James McNally and Georgio Milligan each scored 15 points for F&M in the win. McNally also recorded a double-double leading his team in rebounds with 12.

The Fords begin a three-game road swing in their next outing, Jan. 27, at Muhlenberg College.