Box Score
Chester, PA – After a strong second half performance in
Wednesday evening's three-point win over visiting Lycoming College, Messiah hoped that the same effort would be enough to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit against the host Pride of Widener University, but Saturday's match-up had a very different outcome as the Falcons were handed their first Commonwealth Conference loss 72-80.
Messiah (4-2, 1-1) led 15-10 early in the first half, but a three-pointer from Widener freshman Andrew Radomicki and several Messiah turnovers fueled a 22-10 run for the Pride over the game's next 10 minutes.
“Widener is a good team,” Messiah head coach
Rick Van Pelt said. “They were really sharp today. They made it look easy in the first half.”
With less than five minutes to play in the first stanza, Widener's (5-2, 2-0) offense seemed to be on cruise control as they capitalized on several Messiah miscues, missing only two of 12 shots to score 13 points and enter the locker room leading 47-27.
The Pride shot 19-31 (61.3 percent) from the field first half, scoring 28 points in the paint, while Messiah turned the ball over a total of 12 times and shot 10-24 (41.7 percent) from the field.
“(Widener) shot extremely well and took control inside,” Van Pelt said. “It was a tight game when we were up 15-10, but in the last four minutes of the half, we turned the ball over and they took advantage.”
The second half began just like the first stanza ended as the Pride's offense scored 14 points - their biggest lead (63-35) of the contest - increasing Messiah's deficit to 28 points with 14:21 left to play.
But the Falcons refused to roll over in defeat.
Following Widener's offensive push, it was Messiah's intense defensive pressure that made the difference.
After a steal by freshman
Christyan DeVan, senior
Josh Hartman missed a long-range shot but freshman
Taylor Groff was there for the offensive rebound and the easy put-back.
Moments later, freshman
Brad Bolen came up big, blocking a triple attempt by Widener freshman Woody Redding. Freshman
David Fernandez was there to pick up the loose ball, work it down the court, and back into the hands of Bolen for an open jump shot.
“We didn't quit, didn't show signs of frustration,” Van Pelt said. “We went to high pressure and scrambled on defense to make it close.”
Messiah's defensive pressure continued to oppress, as the Pride turned the ball over in their next two possessions. The Falcons took advantage of the latter miscue, as DeVan drew a foul while driving the lane for a layup, resulting in the conversion of the three-point play.
The teams exchanged scoreless possessions until DeVan grabbed a defensive rebound off of a missed Widener free throw and quickly transitioned into offense. The Falcons moved the ball around the perimeter until Fernandez connected with Bolen for a long-range shot and three more points.
The Falcons rounded out their offensive surge with a layup from Fernandez bringing the score to 70-56 with 6:24 to play. In only five minutes, Messiah put together a barrage of offense going on a 15-2 run. Bolen and Groff scored five points each, bringing the Falcons' deficit to 14 points.
“Our freshman played really well for us tonight,” Van Pelt said. “They brought a lot of energy and made a big difference in the second half.”
With only 3:51 left to play, the Falcons continued their defensive pressure and offensive onslaught.
After a layup from Groff and a Widener turnover, sophomore
Chris Yoder drained a triple to bring the Falcons within nine.
Yoder's defense earned him praise in the next play as he stole the ball from Widener's Radomicki and dished it to Fernandez for an easy layup and a foul.
Fernandez finished the free throw bringing the score to 76-70 with 2:06 to play. In their late offensive frenzy, the Falcons outscored the Pride 14-2, but it wouldn't be good enough to secure the win.
In the final moments of the game, Messiah missed three of four shots and was forced to foul, while Widener converted on four of 10 free throws to sustain their lead.
“We weren't sharp on offense tonight,” Van Pelt said. “We had some open shots. We missed three or four open layups to the basket. With those points, it could have made a real big difference.”
The Falcons finished the night shooting 28-06 (46.7 percent) from the field, 7-20 (35 percent) from behind the arc, and 9-16 (56.3 percent) from the foul line, while forcing 22 Widener turnovers - 15 in the second half alone.
Fernandez led the Falcons in points with 12, while Yoder was right behind with 11, going three for three from behind the arc.
“I'm looking forward to playing (Widener) at home,” Van Pelt said. “We'll make adjustments and it should be a really good game.”
Before that, however, Messiah will return to the court this upcoming weekend, hosting its own Homewood Suites by Hilton Tournament. Valley Forge Christian College will take on Juniata College Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. The Falcons will then battle Medgar Evers College in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m. Both winners from Friday will play on Saturday at 3 p.m. while the consolation game will occur at 1 p.m. All games will take place in Brubaker Auditorium.
