Glenn Robinson holds up the 667 game ball. |
LANCASTER, Pa. — Franklin & Marshall head men's coach
Glenn Robinson recorded his 667th career victory to surpass former
Illinois Wesleyan head coach Dennie Bridges for the NCAA Division
III career wins record as the Diplomats performed a 75-52 St.
Valentine's Day defeat of Muhlenberg in Centennial Conference play
at the Mayser Center.
Robinson, who improved his career record to 667-234 with the
victory, now stands 12th among all active NCAA coaches in victories
and has already surpassed legendary UCLA coach John Wooden
(664-112) for 25th on the all-time list.
In his 33rd year at F&M, Robinson has guided the Diplomats to
the Division III Final Four four times (1979, 1991, 1996 and 2000)
and was named the Basketball Times Division III
Coach of the Year in 1991. He has earned conference and National
Association of Basketball Coaches regional Coach of the Year honors
11 times.
In addition, with the victory and a 69-49 loss by Johns Hopkins to
Haverford, Franklin & Marshall, which entered the game with a
three-game lead over Hopkins with four games remaining, clinches
the No. 1 seed and hosting duties for the Centennial Conference
tournament set for Feb. 28-29.
"It's a wonderful feeling to win the game and clinch the No. 1
seed in the playoffs," said Robinson following a postgame
celebration in which he was lauded by alumni, administration and
local politicians. "I am proud to accept these accolades on behalf
of all the players and on behalf of Franklin & Marshall
College. This is really not about me, this about the players. They
won the games."
Against Muhlenberg, the key player was center Steve Juskin as he
dominated the Mules on both ends of the court registering game
highs in points (20), rebounds (six) and blocked shots (four).
Leading 38-23 at halftime, the Diplomats turned up the heat with a
steady dose of Juskin in the opening minutes of the second half as
he scored seven consecutive points for the blue and white as
F&M led 45-30 with 15:13 left on the clock after Juskin made a
free throw.
The free throw ignited the deciding run as the Diplomats reeled
off a 7-0 spurt behind a pair of free-throws by center Danny Lynch,
a 3-pointer by guard Jackiem Wright and a lay-up by forward Bobby
Lynch to take a 52-30 lead with 13 minutes left on the game
clock.
Muhlenberg's Ryan Bonda drained a 3-pointer to slice the margin to
19, but Wright hit a layup and a pair of free throws before the
Mules' Dennis Severino tallied a bucket for a 56-35 game. It marked
the last time Muhlenberg was within 20 points of the Diplomats as
F&M coasted to the 23-point victory and NCAA history.
In the first half, the Mules stuck with Franklin & Marshall as
Jeff Stewart hit a layup to give the Mules a 7-6 lead with 14:50
left in the first half. It marked the last time Muhlenberg held the
lead as point guard Duran Searles drained an NBA range 3-pointer
before Jimmie Riggins knocked down a jumper to knot the game at 9-9
with 13:26 left until intermission.
The points fired the Diplomats' offense as guard Logan Outerbridge
came off the bench and fired in a three to ignite an 18-0 run in
which five Diplomats scored, including five points from Wright who
finished the game with 17 markers, for a 27-9 lead with 8:15
remaining in the half.
F&M pushed the lead out to 20 as Searles converted a fast
break for a layup and a 35-15 margin before the Mules chipped the
lead down to 15 at 38-23 before halftime.
For Muhlenberg, O'Brien led the Mules with 13 points and six
rebounds, while Stewart added eight points in the effort.