FRANKLIN – The Franklin men's basketball team resumed conference play on Saturday (Dec. 30) afternoon, hosting the Manchester Spartans inside the Spurlock Center.
 
Franklin (4-7, 2-2 HCAC) erased a 14-point halftime lead but couldn't get the go-ahead bucket in the final minutes as the Spartans (6-5, 3-1 HCAC) held on for a 68-65 win.
 
How it Happened
A 10-2 Manchester run early in the game put some distance between the two teams and made it 16-8 with seven minutes gone in the first half. Manchester stretched their lead to as many as 16 before the halftime horn sounded, with the Grizzlies trailing 40-26 after 20 minutes of play.
 
The Spartans kept Franklin at a distance until late in the second half when Franklin put together a furious rally to get back within a possession with a minute to play after a layup from Lynn King. Franklin had a look to tie the game in the final seconds down by three, but couldn't get the look they wanted before the final horn sounded.
 
Inside the Box Score
-King was magnificent for Franklin, leading the team with 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
-Ryan Bostic added 12 points and Jesse Morgan had 11 points for the home side.
-Franklin shot 40.6% (26-for-43) from the floor while holding Manchester to 40.4% (23-for-57) on the day.
-Both teams struggled shooting from deep, combining for just seven triples on 43 attempts.
-Free throws played a key role in the final, with Manchester going 18-for-25 at the line to 10-for-12 for Franklin.
-Rebounds were 41-36 in Franklin's favor. Jesse Faires finished second on the Grizzlies with six boards.
 
Up Next
Franklin is back at home on Wednesday (Jan. 3), ringing in 2024 with a matchup against Rose-Hulman. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.