Championship Central

Franklin & Marshall defeated Gettysburg to claim the top seed in the Centennial Conference Men's Basketball Championship for the first time since 2016 as regular season play concluded on Saturday for all 10 conference teams. 

All six playoff spots had already been secured heading into Saturday's regular season finales, but only one of the six (Dickinson at No. 6) was finalized. The key showdown of the day occurred in Gettysburg, with F&M (19-6, 11-2 CC) taking down the host Bullets (19-6, 10-3 CC) 64-59 with the conference's top seed at stake. F&M has been the CC top seed a conference-leading 13 times, with this being the Diplomats first time atop the regular season since 2016. 

Johns Hopkins secured the other first-round bye with a 91-61 triumph over Dickinson in Baltimore. The Blue Jays (16-9, 10-3 CC) will host a semifinal matchup on Friday as the No. 2 seed, as will the top-seeded Diplomats. 

Dickinson finished the regular season at 9-16, 4-9 CC to clinch the No. 6 seed. The Red Devils will travel to Gettysburg for a first-round tilt on Tuesday. 

Tuesday's other first round matchup will feature fifth-seeded Swarthmore (17-8, 9-4 CC) at fourth-seeded Ursinus (16-9, 9-4 CC). The Bears and Garnet both closed out their regular seasons with wins on Saturday. Ursinus toppled Washington College 83-47 while Swarthmore edged Haverford 103-98.

This will mark the third year of the CC tournament featuring a six-team format. The higher seeds will host each round of the tournament. 

All game times have yet to be determined. Check back to Centennial.org for updates. 

FIRST ROUND: Tuesday, Feb. 25 | at #3 & #4 seeds

#6 Dickinson at #3 Gettysburg, time TBA

#5 Swarthmore at #4 Ursinus, time TBA

SEMIFINALS: Friday, Feb. 28 | at #1 & #2 seeds 

Higher seeded first round winner at #2 Johns Hopkins, time TBA

Lower seeded first round winner at #1 Franklin & Marshall, time TBA

CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunday, March 2 | at highest remaining seed 

Semifinal winners, time TBA