Williamsport, PA – The Messiah men's basketball team used a 32-9 run in the first-half against the Lycoming Warriors to open up a 24-point lead, before cruising to a 68-47 victory. In the win, the Falcons led by as many as 27-points early in the second-half.
 
It was a team effort for Messiah on Wednesday night with Neil Murren and Jimmy Brackett leading the way with 14 points each.
 
Josh Clippinger opened up the game for the Falcons with a big dunk. After two quick buckets for Lycoming, Clippinger would complete a three-point play that put Messiah up 5-4. Geoff Boyle and Lycoming's David Johnson would trade layups before the Falcons would take over the game with a massive run that spanned the next 8:50.
 
Messiah's run would take their lead from 7-6 all the way to 39-15 with less than four minutes to go in the half. The run opened on the backs of Logan Long and Neil Murren. Both Murren and Long nailed a pair of triples while Falcons' defense held the Warriors scoreless on five straight possessions. The barrage of three's opened up a 19-6 lead for Messiah.
 
Willie Hope made a layup, Matt Hess hit a three, and the defense stopped Lycoming four more times. Just like that the Falcons lead by 18 points at 24-6. A layup by John Monkam ended the 5:07 scoreless streak for the Warriors and began a short stretch that saw Lycoming cut the Messiah lead down to 14-points.
 
Jimmy Brackett then scored eight of the next 11 points for the Falcons to give Messiah their first 20-point lead of the game. After the Falcons crossed the 20-point threshold in terms of a lead it was all over. Across the final 25:03 the Falcons led by 20-plus points for all but 2:25.
 
Geoff Boyle ended the first-half with a three-point play to put the Falcons up 45-20, their largest half-time lead of the season.
 
With the 25-point cushion coming out of the break, the Falcons cruised across the final 20 minutes. Despite 16 second-half turnovers, the Falcons' lead was never in trouble thanks in large part to a very difficult night from the field for the Warriors. Lycoming shot just 27.1% from the field (16-59) and 25.0% (3-12) from beyond the arc in the loss. Whether it was good defense or poor offensive the 27.1% from the field is the Warriors lowest shooting night of the season.
 
The Warriors' poor shooting led to their fewest points in a game this season, falling 20 points short of their previous season-low of 67. The 47 points allowed by Messiah is the fewest points the Falcons have allowed in a game this season. Their previous low of 51 came against Lebanon Valley two weeks ago.
 
When it was all said and down the Falcons ran away with the 68-47 victory, their largest margin of victory since defeating Lancaster Bible College 92-66 on Nov. 15, 2014.
 
The lopsided game allowed the Falcons to empty the bench late in the contest with 15 different Falcons seeing playing time.
 
Jimmy Brackett filled up the box score tonight with 14 points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Neil Murren (14 points) and Logan Long (12 points) joined Brackett in double-figures. Josh Clippinger (nine points on 4-4 shooting), also played well in limited minutes though foul-trouble kept him off the floor for the majority of the game. Jonah Meredith pulled in a season-high 11 rebounds while dishing out a season-high seven assists as well, both were game-highs.
 
The win improves the Falcons to 3-8 in the MAC Commonwealth and 6-14 overall. Messiah will next take the court on Saturday as they close out a five-game road trip at Albright. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.