LANCASTER, Pa. - Graduate student Chuck Contee scored a team-high 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting to lead the McDaniel College men's basketball team in a 71-49 road loss at Franklin & Marshall to open Centennial Conference play Saturday.

Senior Russell Dandridge poured in a season-high 11 points off the bench, making four field goals and three free throws. Junior Jonas Sujeta nailed a pair of three pointers to finish with six points while junior Kevin Connelly grabbed seven rebounds and dished out two assists.

The Green Terror (10-3, 0-1 CC) took an early 8-7 lead with 13:38 to play in the first half after a jumper from junior Matt Kearney. The Diplomats responded with an 8-0 run to build the lead to seven.

Franklin & Marshall remained in front for the rest of the half, despite McDaniel cutting the lead to just one with 6:16 left on a jumper from Contee. A 9-0 Diplomat run grew the lead to 10, and Franklin & Marshall would take a 35-25 lead into the break.

The Diplomats (9-4, 1-0 CC) started the second half on an 8-0 run, expanding their lead to 18 with 14:35 left to play. Free throws from Dandridge drew McDaniel to within 14 at the 11:16 mark, but that was as close as the Green Terror got the remainder of the game.

McDaniel struggled to shoot the ball, making only 37 percent of their shots from the floor and shooting 65 percent from the free throw line. Franklin & Marshall made over half of its field goal attempts and shot 43 percent from three-point range. The Diplomats also out-rebounded McDaniel, 32-23.

The Green Terror return home on Wednesday to host Dickinson inside the Gill Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.