The resurgent Franklin College men’s basketball team concluded the season Saturday with a 93-77 win at Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Anderson.
The Grizzlies won three of their final four games. They earned late-season triumph against Transylvania University (87-84) on Feb. 17 and Hanover College (83-71) on Feb. 10.
Senior guard Trae Washington scored a career-high 35 points in his final collegiate game. He made four three-point field goals and all 11 free throws attempts.
Junior Aaron Mann recorded a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Fellow junior John Beineke rounded out the team’s double-figure scoring with 17 points.
Franklin (4-21, 4-14 HCAC) used a 13-2 run midway throughout the first half to take a 25-21 lead. Beineke scored six points during the scoring stretch.
The Grizzlies took a 30-24 advantage after a layup from Mann with 8:39 left. A three-point field goal by Mann stretched the lead to 39-28 with 5:29 remaining in the first half.
Franklin’s lead grew to 13 points, 47-34, a few minutes later following two free throws by Washington.
The Grizzlies led 49-38 at halftime.
In the second half, Anderson opened the period on a 14-7 run to cut Franklin’s lead to 56-52 at the 14:30 mark. The Ravens (13-12, 9-9) got within two points, 60-58, with 12:29 left.
A layup by Washington pushed the lead back to six points, 70-64, with 8:24 remaining. The advantage reached nine points, 79-70, following a three-point field goal by junior Brett McCory with 4:16 left.
The Grizzlies made nine free throws down the stretch to seal the road victory.
Saturday’s contest concluded the careers of seniors Matt Niehoff and Washington.
