ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.--The Elizabethtown men's basketball team fell, 83-78 to Franklin & Marshall in a close battle as they opened the 2022-23 season. 

Elizabethtown opened their first game of the season up by six following a jumper from Rance Russo. The Diplomats gained some momentum as they ended their run with a jumper trailing by five. After trading points the Blue Jays began to pull away with a ten-point lead as Niko Georgelis, Jalin Robinson, Russo, and Jared Archer pitched in points. F&M picked up the pace as a jumper on a fast break cut Etown's lead to 29-25. Franklin & Marshall continued to creep closer as a three-pointer brought the Diplomats within one (29-28) of the Jays. With 1:01 remaining in the half, the Diplomats sunk another three tying the game 33-33. Georgelis sunk a three of his own before F&M added in two free throws to end the first half with the Blue Jays leading, 36-35. 

Starting off the second half the teams traded points until a jumper and a three from Archer pulled Etown away, 51-38. Elizabethtown continued to keep a ten-point lead over F&M as Russo and Ben Stanton pitched in four free-throws. The Diplomats then put up seven straight points bridging the ten-point gap to just three points. A layup and some free throws extended Etown's lead, 68-61. For a stretch the two teams went back-n-forth before Franklin & Marshall rattled off the final 14 points of the game to win, 83-78. 

The Blue Jays shot 50.9% (27-53) from the floor and made 7-18 from three. The Diplomats finished the game 27-79 (34.2%) overall and shot 32.4% (12-37) from three. F&M used the bench to their advantage as they put up 37 points. The Diplomats also took advantage of 27 offensive rebounds, compiling 23 second chance points. 

Russo led both teams with 26 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Georgelis added 14 points going 4-7 from the floor and 4-6 from three while Robinson totaled 11 points. 

The Blue Jays will head south as they travel to McDaniel on Saturday, November 12th at 7:00 PM.