Box Score
Grantham, PA — It may not have been aesthetically pleasing, but Messiah's 56-43 win over Neumann University was a display of intestinal fortitude, as the Falcons rolled to their third consecutive victory.
Despite making just 18 field goals compared to committing 19 fouls and 19 turnovers, Messiah utilized a stifling defense to will itself past the visiting Knights, holding Neumann to a lowly 15 of 57 shooting performance (26.3 percent) — a season-low defensive field goal allowance.
It was the second straight win over Neumann (6-6) in as many years for Messiah (7-5), as the Falcons defeated the Knights by a 64-55 score in last year's NCAA Tournament First Round.
“If defense wins championships, we have a shot,” said Mike Miller, Messiah head coach, “because our offense isn't going to get us there.”
Miller's tongue-in-cheek comment came after witnessing a painful first half, where Messiah made just eight of 28 shots from the floor (28.6 percent) and Neumann seven of 25 (28 percent). A layup from sophomore Becca Albus made it a 13-11 contest after a full 15 minutes had elapsed off the game clock, and Messiah took a narrow, 21-18 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Thankfully for Miller, his team came alive on the offensive end in the second.
And even better, it didn't come at the expense of the team's smothering defense.
The hosts improved to knock in 10 of 20 second-half attempts from the field, keeping Neumann to just an eight of 32 performance (25 percent). And, despite doubling up the Falcons on offensive rebounds (18-9), the Knights simply couldn't keep pace.
Freshman Taylor Miller scored Messiah's first three buckets of the second half to help Messiah to a 29-22 lead, while a triple from sophomore Nicky Hess opened up a 35-25 lead midway through the period. Neumann pulled within six (35-29) with 8:20 to play, but an old fashioned three-point play from junior Tremaine Simmons regained a nine-point lead on the Falcons' next possession.
Another post bucket from Simmons and a driving layup from Miller pushed the Falcons to a 44-31 lead with 5:16 to go, and the advantage would not dip below double-figures from that point forward. Messiah canned six of its last eight free throws, keeping Neumann from getting within true striking distance.
“Neumann had us scouted extremely well and they did a really good job of taking away the stuff we want to get,” Miller said. “This win simulated a league game for us in a lot of ways. To have this game right now, it was great for us.”
Simmons knocked in a career-best 11 points — nine coming in the second half — on a four for five shooting performance, while Miller and Hess each scored 12. Sophomore Dori Gyori added nine points to go with eight rebounds.
Perhaps most notable was the Falcons' defense, however, as Miller's club kept Neumann to just 15 made baskets, forcing 21 turnovers and 24 fouls along the way.
“This was another case of us just coming out and competing,” Miller said. “I couldn't be happier. Neumann is a good and upcoming program, they're extremely well coached and they make it tough on you. I thought we did a great job of recognizing what they were giving us and adjusting (offensively). We were much better in the second half than we were in the first.”
If Thursday's game was a good league preparation, Saturday will be the first test, as Messiah will travel to Commonwealth Conference rival Albright College to resume conference play. Game time is set for 4 p.m. — the second contest of the men's-women's double-header in Albright's Bollman Center.
