Grantham, PA - Five Falcons scored in double-figures and 10 different players scored as Messiah College set a new season-high point total in a 94-74 win over Baptist Bible College on Saturday afternoon. David Fernandez led Messiah with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The win pushed Messiah to 6-3 on the season, while Baptist Bible remained winless at 0-8.

Fernandez scored 12 of his 17 points in the first-half as Messiah built a 39-31 advantage. The teams did exchange the lead six different times in the first frame, but Messiah took the lead for good on a driving layup by Fernandez with 10:36 on the clock. That would be the first of six-straight points by the Messiah senior, and it was all part of an 11-2 run that had the Falcons up 31-24 with 6:09 to play.

Despite seeing Messiah race ahead and build a lead, the Defenders did not wilt. Less than five minutes into the second-half Dan Decker drilled a three-pointer in transition to bring his team within 49-45. It was one of five three-pointers for Decker on the afternoon, and one of the Defenders' 11 makes from beyond the arc overall. But that momentum was shut down seconds later as Zac Hoy found Geoff Boyle in a quick transition the other way, with Boyle throwing down a two-handed dunk to make it 51-45.

A possession later Luke Cable hit a three-pointer, and then Josh Clippinger scored in the paint off a feed from Cable to give Messiah a 56-45 lead. After a bucket by Mitch Raup ended the Falcons' 7-0 run, Ferndandez drove in from the right side and finished to give Messiah another double-digit lead. The Defenders would come within nine points just once more-- 68-59 with 10:03 left-- but Micah Brown hit a three-pointer to quickly give Messiah a double-digit lead for good.

Abe Valetine led the Defenders with a game-high 22 points on 8-14 shooting, while Decker finished with 17 poitns. Marqwon Wynn scored 19 points and went 8-9 from the free-throw line. Baptist Bible's 11 three-pointers kept them alive for stretches, but Messiah proved to be too much. Specifically, the Falcons benefitted from a 16-2 advantage in second-chance points, with Fernandez and Jimmy Brackett grabbing 10 offensive rebounds themselves. Messiah also outscored the undersized Baptist Bible 48-18 in the paint.

Bracket finished with 11 boards and his nine points tied a season-high. Boyle (12), Brown (12), Cable (10), and Hoy (10) all joined Fernandez in double-figures while Zach Dolton scored a career-best nine points of his own. Hoy added a game-high five assists.

The Falcons have now won two games in a row and will next play in Miami, Fla. on Dec. 30 in the annual Miami Adidas Slam Holiday Tournament.