FRANKLIN, Ind. – Using the combination of a strong defensive effort and a season-best performance from long range, the Franklin men's basketball team never trailed on Saturday (Dec. 14) afternoon in an 82-63 win over the Earlham Quakers.

Six players finished the afternoon in double-figures for a Grizzly (5-4, 2-1 HCAC) team that buried a season-high 11 three-pointers on the afternoon. Defensively, the hosts limited Earlham (4-4, 1-2 HCAC) to just over 40 percent from the floor, controlling the game from start to finish.

"For us to put together a dominant of an effort at both ends of the floor is as much as we could ask for," Head coach Kerry Prather said. "We used finals week to our advantage and I'm very pleased with where we are. It's very hard to play that way and it's a long time since I've felt this good about back-to-back performances like the last two."

The Grizzlies opened the game with a 10-2 run and took a double-digit lead for the first time with 11:11 left in the first half following a Danny Goggans layup. Franklin's lead ballooned to as many as 19 points in the opening half before a late surge from the Quakers cut the Franklin lead to 39-27 after 20 minutes of play. Both teams connected on at least half of their threes in the opening 20 minutes, with Franklin knocking down seven and Earlham netting five.

Franklin continued their hot shooting when play resumed, stretching the lead out to 50-32 following a Sam Gutierrez three at the 13:46 mark. The Grizzlies would go 15-for-26 from the floor over the final 20 minutes and lead by as many as 27 points before the final horn sounded.

Matt Krause led all players with 18 points, going 5-for-11 from the floor and connecting on four attempts from three. Gutierrez chipped in with 14 points while Borden Kennedy (13 pts), Kale Morris (11 pts) and Payton Mills (11 pts) joined in, putting all five starters in double figures. Jordan Anderson came off the bench to finish with 10 points in 22 minutes of action.

Franklin shot 54% (27-for-50) on the afternoon, connecting on 50% (11-for-22) of their threes and 77.3% (17-for-22) of their free throws. Rebounds were 30-26 in Franklin's favor with Krause's six board leading the Grizzlies. Kennedy handed out seven assists, leading all players.

The Grizzlies close out the calendar year on Tuesday (Dec. 17) night, when they step out of conference play to take on the Boyce College Bulldogs. Tip-off from the Spurlock Center is set for 6:00 p.m.