GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah men's basketball team outscored Wilson College 53-24 in the second half by shooting 68% from the field to win the game by a final score of 88-59. Neil Murren led the Falcons with 23 points, going 5-7 from behind the arc. Matt Glogowski and Nate Eberle both scored in double digits with 12 points each and Josh Darville collected 10 rebounds in the game.
 
First Half Grid-Lock
The first half was very competitive with both teams playing well on the offensive end, however, the Falcons did outshoot the Phoenix going 12-28 (42.9%) from the field. Trailing 15-14, Messiah took their first lead of the game when Matt Glogowski drained two free-throws to go up 16-15. After a defensive stop Glogowski then made a layup at the other end to extend the lead 18-15 at the 10:40 mark. Later, Wilson went on a 9-0 scoring run to take a 31-21 lead but Messiah slowly chipped away to get back in the game. With the score 31-25 a jumper by Willie Hope, a layup and two free throws by Nate Eberle tied the game at 31 with under three minutes left to play in the first half.
 
As aforementioned, the competitiveness of these teams was showing and with the Phoenix leading 35-33 late in the half, two good shots from behind the charity stripe for the Falcons' Kyle Krout tied the game and it stayed that way heading into halftime.
 
Messiah Comes Out Energized
Messiah used their momentum from the end of the first half to start the second as they went on a 12-2 scoring run. Neil Murren got things started hitting two back-to-back threes right away. The Falcons kept increasing their lead as the game went along and a three-pointer by Matt Hess at the 13:41 mark gave them a 15-point advantage 54-39 and forced Wilson to take a timeout.
 
Falcons Fly Away
Messiah went on a 10-0 run out of the timeout as the hands stayed hot behind the arc. Nate Eberle knocked down a three and then Neil Murren made his fourth three of the game at the 11:15 mark to give Messiah a 64-39 lead. From that point on the game was all Falcons as they increased their lead to as much as 30 with five minutes to play and the Phoenix did not have a response.
 
Overall the Falcons shot an impressive 34-60 (56.7%) from the field and were 8-16 (50%) from behind the three-point line. They also out-rebounded the Phoenix 45-28.
 
Next Up
Messiah is now 1-1 on the year and will play in the TownePlace Suites Tip-Off Championship game tomorrow afternoon against Eastern Mennonite at 1:00 p.m.