Grantham, PA - The Messiah Falcons defeated the Albright Lions 64-56 on Wednesday night in Brubaker Auditorium. The win keeps the Falcons' playoff chances alive as they are fighting for their lives in the Commonwealth playoff hunt. After the win they sit alone in 7th place at 6-8 in the conference.

In the early going the Falcons fell into a 9-2 hole thanks to a 7-0 Albright run after the score was tied at 2-2. However the Falcons countered with a 10-2 run of their own across a 2:47 span to take their first lead of the game at 11-10.
 
The Lions and Falcons traded baskets for the next five minutes. With the game tied Albright collected a rebound on the defensive end and knocked it in to the open court to create a nifty transition layup that claimed the lead. On their next possession the Lions hit a three to make it a five-point game. However on the ensuing possession, a David Fernandez-Bravo three from the top of the key began an 11-0 Falcons run.
 
The run was capped off by a Geoff Boyle dunk after a nifty assist from Fernandez-Bravo that made the score 32-26 with 3:22 remaining in the half.  Albright would close the deficient to three before the break, but the Falcons held a 34-31 lead at intermission.
 
Helped by a Geoff Boyle three to begin the half, the Falcons jumped out to an eight-point lead just over a minute into the second-half. Over the next 10 minutes the Lions would claw their way back and eventually a 49-48 lead with 9:20 remaining.
 
The advantage would be short-lived.
 
On the very next possession, Zac Hoy would drive with his left hand and finish the layup to start a 9-2 run for the Falcons. After the Hoy layup put the Falcons back on top they would not trail for the remaining 9:01. The run was highlighted by quality ball movement, particularly on the final bucket of the run where the Falcons made a number of passes before finding a wide open David Fernandez-Bravo in the lane. Fernandez-Bravo made a turn around jumper to make the score 57-51.
 
The Lions would cut the lead to as few as four in the final minute and a half, but layups and free throws from the Falcons would extend the final margin to eight, 64-56.
 
David Fernandez-Bravo and Josh Clippinger led the Falcons with 16 points apiece; Geoff Boyle (13) and Zac Hoy (11) joined the duo in double figures.
 
Boyle also added 12 rebounds to collect his ninth double double of the season including three in the last four games.
 
In the win the Falcons' defense allowed their fewest number of points in a single game (56). Their previous low of 63 came against Alvernia just a week ago.
 
The win moves the Falcons to 6-8 in the conference and as mentions keeps their chances of a playoff birth alive. They have a bye over the weekend but are back in action on Feb. 17 on the road against Arcadia. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m.