HANOVER, Ind. – The Franklin men's basketball team tipped off not only a new season, but a new era on Saturday (Jan. 9), taking on the Hanover Panthers in a scheduled non-conference meeting between long-time rivals.

In addition to the start of a new season, Saturday marked the first game has head coach of the program for Brian Lebowitz. Franklin (0-1) went back-and forth with the Panthers (1-0) all afternoon, but a late surge proved to be the difference in a 76-74 Hanover win.

The Grizzlies opened the game with a hot hand, knocking down six of their first nine shots and led 15-10 with 14:20 to go in the half after a Payton Mills layup. Franklin's lead would climb as high as seven before a 12-0 Hanover run flipped the script and made it 24-19 with six minutes to go in the half. The Grizzlies would shake off their shooting woes and closed out the opening half with six straight points to take a 34-29 edge into the break.

Franklin's lead grew to a game-high eight points early in the second half before nine straight Panther points gave the hosts their first lead of the second half. But the Grizzlies would re-take the lead shortly after and hold on the edge for the majority of the remaining time, holding a 70-63 lead with 3:38 to play. But the Grizzlies would manage just one field goal and a pair of free throws the rest of the way, with the Panthers closing the game on a 13-4 run to steal the win.

Senior forward Payton Mills netted 16 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds while fellow senior Sam Gutierrez tied for the team lead with 16 points. Matt Krause and Danny Goggans both hit double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Franklin shot 46.2% (30-for-65) from the floor with the Panthers connecting on 42.6% (29-for-68) at the other end. Rebounds were 42-36 in Franklin's favor with the Grizzlies turning the ball over just nine times on the afternoon.

The two teams will be back at it on Sunday (Jan. 10) for a scheduled non-conference game in Franklin. Tip-off from the Spurlock Center is set for 2:00 p.m.