Salisbury, MD — A shooter's mentality helped Messiah to a 63-61 overtime win against Randolph College Friday, but a lack of defense limited the Falcons to a 73-81 Saturday loss against host Salisbury at this weekend's Salisbury University Optimist Classic.
Messiah (2-6) rode an incredible, turnaround shooting performance from junior Jamie Yoder in the former, as the guard went two for two from three-point land en route to scoring nine points in the overtime period — all after going 0-11 from the floor during regulation.
The fantastic finish was set up following a methodical, comeback effort from the Falcons, as Randolph (1-6) led by as many as 12 points in the first half before settling on a 30-23 halftime advantage. The Wildcats still led by seven points with 16:54 to play in regulation before a 15-2 Messiah run gave the Falcons their first lead of the night — an advantage that ballooned to a 46-40 score with 7:24 remaining off a long ball from freshman Mike Shaker.
Four straight Messiah turnovers ensued over the game's next two and a half minutes, however, a stretch that was compounded by two straight misses from the floor. Randolph slowly made up the gap, and when the Wildcats' Terrell Johnson scored a layup with 1:06 remaining, it was the Falcons that were down 48-49.
Yoder then missed his 10th three-point attempt of the afternoon on the squad's next possession, but senior Andy Hawk was there for the offensive rebound. He was fouled on the put-back attempt, and went to the line with just 34 seconds to play.
Hawk's first effort was good but his second rolled around the rim and off, giving Randolph one last chance to end things in regulation. The Wildcats got off a decent three-point look at the buzzer, but the shot was long.
In the overtime stanza, Yoder seemed the least likely to salt things away in Messiah's favor, having not scored a point in 35 minutes of action. His first attempt from deep in OT was true, however, cutting a quick, 53-49 Randolph lead to just 53-52 with 3:21 to play. A free throw and yet another long ball from Yoder pushed Messiah ahead by a 61-58 score with 1:11 on the clock, while two more charity tosses all but sealed things in a 63-60 score with six seconds remaining. Messiah elected to foul Randolph with just two seconds on the clock, and the Wildcats attempted a make-the-first, miss-the-second strategy. It worked out, save for the last part, as the team was unable to get a shot off before the horn looking for the tie.
Hawk led the way for Messiah's scoring efforts, charting 15 points to go with 10 rebounds. Junior Kyle Snyder added 11 points and six boards, while sophomore Colton Reitz notched 10 and five. Yoder's nine points were perhaps the most notable of all, as the scrappy guard finished with one of the most positive 2-13 shooting performances in basketball history.
Offense was not the problem for Messiah Saturday, as the Falcons allowed the host Sea Gulls (2-7) to shoot a remarkable 63 percent from the floor (29 of 46 overall), the team's most porous defensive field goal percentage of the season. Again, the squad battled back from an early 12-point deficit, with a three pointer from sophomore Tyler Ritzman cutting the halftime difference to just 42-45. A 12-3 Salisbury run midway through the second half would ultimately prove to be the difference, however, as the Sea Gulls turned a 53-50 lead with 14:58 to play into a 65-53 advantage with 8:28 remaining.
An ability to get to the free throw line would give Messiah a chance — the Falcons attempted 20 second-half freebies — as the squad pulled within a 68-72 difference with just over two minutes to go, but a quick, 8-2 Salisbury run dashed any hopes. Messiah trailed 80-70 with 20 seconds to play — another late three ball from Ritzman helping to cut things to the final eight-point difference.
Ritzman paced the Falcons' scoring efforts, charting a career-high 16 points on five of eight shooting — including a five of seven effort from three-point land. Hawk scored 13 and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
Messiah finished 22 of 29 from the free throw line (75.9 percent) and secured a season-high 19 offensive rebounds, numbers that helped offset Salisbury's torrid shooting clip.
Hawk was named to the all-classic team as a result of his play.
Messiah now focuses its collective attention to its home floor for the first time of the 2008-2009 season, as the Falcons will welcome three teams to the annual Messiah College/Hampton Inn Invitational next weekend. Averett University and Montclair State University will hook up in Friday evening's first contest (scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m.), while Messiah will take on Baptist Bible College in the nightcap at approximately 7:00 p.m. The tournament's consolation game is set for a 1 p.m. tip-off Saturday; the championship game will begin at approximately 3 p.m.
