Grantham, PA – The Messiah Falcons took the court in their home opener on Friday night against the Lancaster Bible College Chargers and fell by a score of 82-67.
 
Messiah started quickly in the first-half, opening the game with a jumper by Luke Cable and a three by Geoff Boyle in the game's fist minute. With the quick start, the Falcons opened up a 12-4 lead in the first four minutes. Seven points by Boyle highlighted the run.
 
After Cable hit a pair of free throws five minutes later, the Falcons lead stood at 10, their largest of the half. With the score 19-9, the Chargers began a 12-0 run to take their first lead of the game with 8:16 remaining the half.
 
The highlight of the first-half came with Messiah trailing by four and just under five minutes to play in the half. Willie Hope grabbed a defensive rebound and pushed the ball forward with Josh Clippinger trailing. Hope took off, as if to go for a layup but while in the air sent a pass behind his back to Clippinger who slammed it home.
 
The dunk from Clippinger began a 13-5 run for the Falcons to close out the half and give Messiah a 37-35 lead heading into the break.
 
Early in the second-half, Lancaster Bible's Kurt Keltner hit threes on back-to-back possessions - for six of his 19 points – giving Lancaster Bible their first lead of the half at 43-43. The game remained close for the next eight minutes, with Messiah holding a one-point, 54-53 lead with 11:31 remaining in the half.
 
The highlight of the second-half came at the midpoint of the period. With Messiah trailing by four, Geoff Boyle's pass intended for Micah Brown was intercepted by Bryce Williams. Williams carried the ball forward and tossed a pass for CJ Dunston, who sent it home with authority for the alley-oop and the six-point lead.
 
The dunk by Dunston lifted the Chargers for the remainder of the game. A Luke Cable three with 6:04 remaining brought the deficient to three, but Messiah wouldn't get any closer, eventually losing by an 82-67 final.
 
Lancaster Bible used a 29-13 run across the final 11:31 en route to the victory.
 
Luke Cable finished with 22 points and led three Falcons in double-digit points. Geoff Boyle (16 points) and Josh Clippinger joined Cable with 10-plus points.
 
The Blazers were paced by CJ Dunston and his 24 points and 16 rebounds. He also collected four steals and four blocks in the contest.
 
With the win the Blazers improve to 2-0 on the young season and will take on Franklin & Marshall in tomorrow's championship game at 3:00 p.m.
 
With the loss, Messiah (2-1) suffers their first loss of the season and they will take the floor tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in the consolation game against the New Jersey City University Gothlic Knights.