XML Box Score Miami, FL - Messiah College trailed for most of the afternoon and could not catch up in an 87-80 loss to Eastern Connecticut State on Wednesday afternoon in Miami, Fla. The loss dropped Messiah to 7-4 on the season and gave them a 1-1 split in two games at the Miami Adidas Slam Holiday Tournament.
The Falcons trailed by six at halftime before Eastern Connecticut went on a 12-5 run after the break to build a 47-35 lead. Messiah battled back behind 10 second-half points from
David Fernandez-Bravo, with his three-point play bringing the team to within 73-66 with just over three minutes to play.
After a bucket by the Warriors,
Luke Cable hit a three-pointer for Messiah to make it 75-69. But the Falcons wouldn't get closer until the final five seconds, when
Zac Hoy's bucket from behind the arc brough them to within 85-80. A final bucket by the Warriors at the end of the a full-court defense completed the scoring.
Hoy led the team with 16 points and Fernandez finished with 13 points.
Josh Clippinger and Cable added 12 points and 10 points, respectively.
Trachone Preston led the Warriors (9-2) with 25 points.
The Falcons will return home this week and host Alvernia University on Saturday, Jan. 3 on the back-end of a conference doubleheader with the women. Game time for the women is 3:00, with the men to follow at 5:00.
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