Grantham, PA - Four Falcons scored in double-figures and Messiah took advantage of a large first-half lead to win over John Jay 87-75. The win pushed Messiah to 2-0 on the season, and also propelled them into the TownePlace Suites Tip-Off Tournament Championship against Eastern Mennonite.

David Fernandez-Bravo and Josh Clippinger each scored 20 points for the Falcons, while Luke Cable and Zac Hoy added 12 and 11 points respectively. Clippinger added 11 rebounds, for his first career double-double.
 
With the Falcons trailing 11-9 at the 11:17 mark Luke Cable hit a three to put Messiah up by two. Cable's three started a 24-4 run for the Falcons across the next 5:43 that gave the Falcons a 33-15 lead. The run was fueled by quality shooting from the free throw line. The Falcons scored nine of their 24 points in the run from the charity stripe.
 
The first-half was capped off by a one-handed tip-in dunk by Josh Clippinger. With the Falcons holding possession for the last shot, Zac Hoy drove to the basket on the left side and flipped up a shot that bounced off the rim and missed. Fortunately for the Falcons, it bounced right into the waiting right-hand of Clippinger who's leaped was timed perfectly from the right side to flush home the miss and send the Falcons to the break with the momentum and a 20 point lead.
 
The Falcons cam out of half time firing, growing their lead to 25 points over the bloodhounds, thanks to a layup by Geoff Boyle and a three by Cable. The Falcons held a lead of 52-27, however the Bloodhounds would dominate the next 10 minutes. By the nine-minute mark, the Falcons lead was only single-digits after the Bloodhounds went on a 29-13 run.
 
With 8:46 remaining in the game, David Fernandez-Bravo fed Jimmy Brackett who's layup pushed the Falcon lead back to 11. After that bucket, the Falcons never lead by less than 10. Eventually winning by a final score of 87-75.
 
With the win the Falcons advance to take on the Eastern Mennonite Royals who won the other men's game this afternoon by a final score of 65-64. The Falcons and Royals will play at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon in Brubaker Auditorium while the Bloodhounds will face the DeSales Bulldogs at 2:00 p.m.. That game will also be held in Brubaker Auditorium.