GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Falcons fell to the Albright Lions 82-74 on Jordan Court despite a hard fought second half. The Lions had four players with 10 or more points, including Sidney Brown, who finished the night with 23 points and shot 7-of-9 from three-point range.

The Falcons were led by Colin Sareyka (20 points), Matt Glogowski (19), Josh Darville (13), and Caleb Light (11). Matt Glogowski and Josh Darville both recorded double-doubles with Glogowski earning 11 rebounds while Darville grabbed 12 of his own. 

Messiah fell behind early in the contest with Albright starting the game on a 6-0 run. From there, the Lions charged forward, holding the Falcons under 10 points until Colin Sareyka put the Falcons in double-digits with 10:31 to play in the half. 

In the second half, Messiah began a long push to make a comeback in the game but they would only pull within as much as five. 

The Falcons are now 9-15 on the season and 5-10 in the conference, putting them out of playoff contention. Messiah will wrap up the regular season on Feb. 12 when they take on the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen at 8:00 p.m. on Jordan Court.

Early Deficit
The Lions struck first with back-to-back three's, putting the Falcons down 6-0 with 18:22 to play in the first half. Josh Darville and Matt Glogowski answered for Messiah, each adding in two points to end Albright's run. Albright hit a jumper to make it 8-4 in favor of the Lions but Josh Darville drove through the paint moments later to bring the Falcons within two once more. 

The Lions went on a 13-2 run that last four minutes and 32 seconds. The run kept the Falcons under 10 points in the contest until Colin Sareyka drove in to sink a layup and make it 21-10 with 10:31 remaining in the half. 

Messiah held their own in the last 10 minutes of the half, collecting points from Caleb Light, Josh Darville, Matt Glogowski, Colin Sareyka, and EJ Porter. Messiah held the Lions to 15 points in the last 10 minutes of the half while the Falcons scored 14 of their own, going into halftime down 36-24. 

Second Half Action
Josh Darville got things started in the second half with style as he threw down a dunk to start things off. The Lions didn't slow down however, working their way to a 14-point lead with 17:01 remaining the half. Colin Sareyka chipped away at the deficit with a bucket from downtown, making it 42-31 in favor of the Lions. After a minute and 16 seconds of scoreless play, Matt Glowgowski dropped two points to pull the Falcons within nine with 15:36 remaining in regulation. The Lions answered back, regaining a double-digit lead after a layup from Jared Rappoport.

Colin Sareyka hit another shot from beyond the arc followed by a layup from Caleb Light to pull within seven points with 13:02 remaining in the half. The Lions continued to utilize heavy offensive pressure to maintain the lead but the Falcons didn't quit.

The Falcons went on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a three-pointer from Caleb Light, putting Messiah within five points of the Lions, the closest they would be in the second half. The Lions ended run with a three-pointer from Samuel Majekodunmni. Josh Darville responded with a layup off a fastbreak to bring Messiah within six points but Albright rallied to their way to a 10-point lead with 6:46 to play in regulation. 

Lions Pull Away
Despite the Falcons' efforts, Albright worked their way to a 74-61 point lead that proved to be too much to recover from. Messiah outscored the Lions 13-7 in the final two minutes and 10 seconds of the contest but it was just short of what they needed as the Lions won 82-74. 

What's Up Next
Messiah will take on the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen on Feb. 12 at 8:00 p.m. to wrap up regular season play.