The Basics

• Score: Johns Hopkins-67, Franklin & Marshall-61

• Records: JHU (13-5, 10-1 CC) • FMC (8-10, 5-6 CC)

• Location: Baltimore, MD • Goldfarb Gym

• The Short Story: Senior Michael Gardner and sophomore Joey Kern combined for 34 points in leading the Johns Hopkins men's' basketball team to a 67-61 win over visiting Franklin & Marshall Thursday night. 

How it Happened

• Trailing by four early, back-to-back layups by senior Daniel Vila and Kern sparked an 8-0 run that put Hopkins up 10-6 at the 13:56-mark. After a Les Thomas jumper, freshman Braeden Johnson sandwiched a dunk and a triple around a Zach Ravitz bucket to make it a 15-10 game.

• A pair of JC McGrath free throws and a Solomon Mathis bucket sliced the Blue Jays' lead back to one with 10:22 to play in the half. Kern responded with back-to-back three-pointers and just like that the lead was seven. The Diplomats kept battling and used an 8-0 run retake the lead with 2:41 to go in the half on a pair of Matt Redhead free throws. The teams traded buckets in the final 90 seconds and Hopkins took a 27-26 lead in the lockerroom.

• After an intentional foul call on Justin Kuppa, Kern sank two free throws and then Gardner drained a three-pointer from the elbow to put Hopkins up 32-26 just 63 seconds in. Franklin & Marshall answered with six straight points to knot the score at 32 apiece.

• Junior Harry O'Neil put the Jays back on top with a bucket in the paint, followed by a Joey Fitzpatrick drive and score. Gardner then hit back-to-back buckets from downtown and all of the sudden the lead was 10 with 13:59 to play.

• F&M pulled back within six, but a Johnson three-pointer and Noah Ralby layup quickly pushed JHU's lead to 11 with 8:56 on the clock. The Blue Jays couldn't put the Dips away however as they put together a 12-4 spurt to pull back within three. The teams swapped free throws and it was a 57-52 game with 2:00 to go.

• Kuppa sliced the deficit to two with a three-pointer, but Vila answered on the other end with one of his own and it was 60-55 with 1:13 left. Hopkins would secure the win at the free throw line, going 4-of-5, with a Ralby layup mixed in, in the final 40 seconds.

What it Means

• Hopkins improves to 41-64 all-time against Franklin & Marshall. The Blue Jays have won three straight and six of the last seven.

• JHU remains alone atop the Centennial Conference standings with a 10-1 record and maintains a two-game lead.

Inside the Box Score

• Gardner led the Blue Jays with 18 points and now needs just 20 to reach 1,000 for his career. Kern finished with 16 points, while handing out a game-high three assists and grabbing two steals. Vila tied his season high with three blocks

• Kupa finished with a game-high 27 points and Mathis added 11 for the Dips.

Up Next

• Hopkins is back in action on Saturday, January 26 as the Blue Jays host the Washington College Shoremen. Tip-off at Goldfarb Gym is slated for 12:00 pm.