The loss is the second of the season for the Bulldogs (11-4 overall) to the Diplomats (11-3 overall) after DSU lost the season opener, 81-67, at the Mayser Center in Lancaster, PA. F&M shot 52.5 percent from the field in the game and DeSales committed a season-high 21 turnovers. The Bulldogs also shot just 42.6 percent from the field.
Franklin & Marshall threatened to run away with the game early as they went on a 14-0 run after the score was tied at seven to take a 21-7 lead with 11:44 left in the half. Smith scored 11 of the 14 points during the spurt. DeSales answered right back with an 18-4 run to tie the game at 25 as senior Kyle Koch and Kevin Welsh totaled 14 of the Bulldogs 18 points during the run.
Another tie and three lead changes saw the Dips leading 31-30 before they ended the half on a 7-2 run to take a 38-32 lead into the locker rooms.
A lay-up by Koch and a trey by senior Michael Venafra out of the locker rooms cut the deficit to just one point, 38-37, with 18:25 left. F&M went on a quick 5-0 run to push the lead back up to six points, 45-39.
The Bulldogs made several mini runs over the last 17 ½ minutes getting within two, 49-47, at the 12:56 mark and within three points twice but could never get any closer as the Dips used a 6-0 run late in the game to extend a four point edge into a 10-point lead at 75-65 and never looked back.
Koch recorded his first career double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds and Welsh added a career-high 13 points on the strength of three treys. Venafra added 11 markers and junior Drew Christman totaled 14 tallies off the bench.
The Diplomats were led by Smith who recorded the first career Dip double-double that included a 30-point game in F&M history. Bryan Teschke added 16 points and six rebounds and Jackiem Wright totaled 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting.