Engineers use strong finish to get past Grizzlies
TERRE HAUTE — Closing on a 26-6 run on its home court, Rose-Hulman defeated the Franklin College men’s basketball team 79-61 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action Wednesday.
Franklin overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to take a 55-53 lead after a 3-point field goal by sophomore Matt Niehoff with 7:35 left.
Sophomore Aaron Mann led all scorers with 21 points, including 15 points in the first half.
Sophomore John Beineke and freshman Jim Mace each chipped in eight points. Sophomore Robbie Prather and Niehoff each scored seven points.
Rose-Hulman scored nine straight points to take a 24-15 lead after a layup by Dillon Reynolds with 7:39 left in the first half. The Grizzlies trailed 38-27 after the opening 20 minutes of action.
The visitors opened the second half on an 11-1 spurt during the first four minutes to trail 39-38 following a 3-point field goal by Prather.
Later, sophomore Trey Boles made a 3-pointer to bring the Grizzlies within 46-45 at the 12:39 mark.
Rose-Hulman took a 53-50 lead after a layup by Jimmy Miller with 8:47 remaining. Mace converted a layup and Niehoff made a 3-point field goal to give Franklin its only lead of the contest.
Then, the Fightin’ Engineers had the strong finish to pick up the home victory.
Franklin shot 55.6 percent from the floor and made five 3-pointers in the contest.
Tyler Duffy led three double-figure scorers with 18 points for Rose-Hulman.
— Special to the Daily Journal
