GETTYSBURG, Pa.  – The Gettysburg College men's basketball team captured its Centennial Conference opener against rival Franklin & Marshall College by the final score of 67-55 to extend its win streak to five straight for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
 
Top Performers - Gettysburg
- Avery Close '21 (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) – 18 points, 5-8 FG, 5 rebounds
- Alex Leder '21 (Bethesda, Md./Bullis School) – 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 Assists
- Nick Antolini '20 (Babylon, N.Y./Babylon) – 9 Points, 6 Rebounds
 
Top Performers – F&M
- Solomon Mathis – 13 points, 4 Assists
- Les Thomas – 9 points, 4 Rebounds
 
How It Happened…

• First Half
  • The Bullets would be the first to get on the scoreboard as Close made a lay-up 20 second into the opening half. From there, the two teams battled it out offensively and defensively as they traded baskets with the lead never exceeding past four points until the 2:47 marker.
  • For nearly six minutes, the Bullets did an outstanding job defensively as they held the Diplomats scoreless while developing a 10-0 burst with 2:17 showing.
  • F&M's Matt Redhead snapped the scoreless streak by netting a lay-up with 1:54 to go, but the Bullets headed into the half up 30-25.
  • Eight Gettysburg players scored in the half and shot a stellar 11-of-20 (55 percent) from the field.
• Second Half
  • A lay-up by freshman Ryan McKeon (Landenberg, Pa./Sanford) pushed the Bullets' advantage to seven with 18 minutes remaining.
  • F&M answered with the next five points to come within two, but that was the closest they would come for the rest of the game.
  • Gettysburg pulled ahead with a double-figure lead for the first time all game off a lay-up by freshman Spencer Curto (Yonkers, N.Y./Millbrook) with 7:51 showing. The Diplomats cut it back down to seven as Mike Rice drained a trey on the next possession.
  • The Bullets made it an 11-point lead as Curto sank a pair of free throws and Close made a lay-up on the next couple of possessions.
  • From the 4:37 marker until the end, the Bullets maintained a 10 or more point gain, with the largest coming in at 15 to close the game with a victory.

By the Numbers

• Gettysburg finished 20-of-40 (50 percent) from the field and 25-of-28 (89.3 percent) from the charity stripe, which is the highest from the free throw line this season.
• F&M went 17-of-48 (35.4 percent) from the floor, 8-of-21 from three-point range, and 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) from the free throw line.
• Leder has scored in double-figures in each of the five games for the Bullets.
• For the first time since the 2001-02 season, the Bullets are off to its best start at 5-0. The 2001-02 team opened the season at 8-0.
• The Bullets have defeated the Diplomats in the meeting opener in four of the last five times.

Where the Series Stands
Gettysburg now leads F&M 117-106 in the all-time series that stretches back to 1902-03. The Bullets 13-point margin of victory at home last season was the largest since 2016 when the team won by 16.  
 
Next Up
Gettysburg plays at non-conference opponent Juniata College on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m.