Hampden Sydney, VA - Messiah men's basketball hit 15 three-pointers and scored a season-high 98 points in a dominating 98-58 win over Elmira on Tuesday afternoon at the Luck Stone Holiday Tournament. Josh Clippinger scored 24 points to lead the way, and Nate Eberle (12 points) and Rob McWilliams joined him in double-figures. Eight different players scored at least six points in the win as the Falcons also finished with season-best marks in field goals made (38) and field goal percentage (62.3). 
 
The 15 three-pointers made were also the most in a single game since the Falcons went 15-23 against Juniata on Nov. 29, 2006.

With the win Messiah moved to 4-6 overall, and they'll play again this Thursday evening when they host Cairn University in Brubaker Auditorium.
 
Despite the final score, the game was very much in contention for the opening minutes of the first-half. Messiah even went down 17-13 with 14:31 on the clock, but they responded with a ridiculous 23-2 run to take a 36-19 lead. That streak started with back-to-back three-point-plays from Logan Long and McWilliams, followed by a three-pointer by Colin Sareyka. In total, the game-changing streak spanned 7:29 and six different players scored. Eberle chipped in two buckets from downtown as Messiah was on their way to shooting 7-13 from long range in the first period.
 
Elmira never recovered from the momentum grab, though they did pull within 45-30 with just over 90 seconds to play before halftime. But Messiah left little hope for the Soaring Eagles as Clippinger scored another five points before the break, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer in transition off a feed from Willie Hope.

In the second-half the teams continued to favor transition and quick shots, and Messiah was again better at both. They hit another eight three-pointers, including another from Eberle at the 13:46 mark that put Messiah up by 30 points, 66-36. He finished a perfect 4-4 from downtown.
 
Less than two minutes after that shot from Eberle, McWilliams provided a highlight with a reverse finish across the lane in transition to make it 72-34.
 
The Falcons led by as many as 42 points in the second-half, mark reached when Noah Cable hit one his own three buckets from beyond the arc with 5:10 to play.
 
Messiah's efficient play helped them turn the ball over just eight times and finish with a 31-6 edge in points off turnovers.
 
As mentioned Messiah next plays on Thursday when they host their final game of 2016.