LANCASTER (PA) – Franklin & Marshall College captured the championship at its Sponaugle New Year's Tournament thanks to an 89-62 triumph over Delaware Valley University on Saturday.

The Diplomats, who received votes in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, improved to 10-1 on the season with the win. The Aggies slipped to 2-9 and they prepare for their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom opener which will be at King's College on Wednesday, January 3.

F&M scored seven of the game's first nine points before DelVal countered with seven straight, including three from Alex Matsinye, for a 9-7 lead. The teams traded baskets before the Diplomats took control with an 18-0 run and a 28-11 advantage with 5:52 left in the first half. Brandon Federici and Matthew Tate combined for 14 of the 18 points.

F&M led by 18, 39-21 at halftime and extended the advantage to as many as 31 in the second stanza. The Diplomats shot 48.3 percent from the field and were red-hot from 3-point land where they connected on 10 of their 19 attempts. Tate was named the tournament Most Valuable Player and he finished the championship game with 16 points. Federici had a game-high 25 points, en route to a spot on the all-tournament team.

Matsinye was the lone Aggie on the all-tournament team as he followed his 14-point performance in Friday's win over Hartwick College, with a team-best 16 points on Saturday. Ten of his points came from the foul line on 15 attempts.

Willie Britton hit double figures for DelVal with 10 points. Austin Chabot had eight points while Damian Washington notched five points and six rebounds in 13 minutes of action.