GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah men's basketball teams dropped a hard-fought 78-69 contest Saturday afternoon inside Hitchcock Arena. With the score tied at 57-57 with 7:30 left in the game, the Lions were able to generate a 21-12 run to end the game and give them the victory. Eight Falcons scored in the game, with EJ Porter leading with 15 points while Sareyka had 13 and Darville 10.

Darville recorded his sixth double-double of the season as he grabbed 12 rebounds in the game. This loss drops Messiah to 8-8 overall and 1-6 in the MAC Commonwealth. They will get back on the court Wednesday night when they travel to Lebanon Valley College for a 6:00 p.m. matchup.

Even Steven First Half
The Lions jumped out to an early 8-2 lead before a timeout calmed the Falcons and helped them find their footing.  Messiah used a 13-10 push to cut the lead to just three at 18-15. Both teams came out cold from the three-point line, going 0-4 over the first 15 minutes in the game. They picked it up from inside the arc however, with both teams shooting well over 40% throughout the first 15 minutes.

After a Josh Darville jumper, Messiah briefly took a 23-22 lead before a pair of Sidney Brown treys made it 28-22 Albright. The Falcons found their groove from beyond the arc as well, with Kyle Krout and EJ Porter knocking down threes to help give the Falcons a 31-30 lead. Both teams battled it out down the stretch of the first half, before the game ultimately went to the break all tied up at 33-33.

Seven Falcons scored in the first half, with Colin Sareyka leading with eight points. Messiah shot 45.2% from the field in the first half, while Albright shot 51.9%. Both teams shot under 35% from downtown, combining for just five threes in the half.
 
Back And Forth Battle
It was more of the same in the second half, with Albright holding a slight 39-38 lead before Porter dished out a dime to the waiting Jordan Criddle for the layup and the lead. Albright took the lead back at 44-42 before a Criddle three gave Messiah back the lead at 45-44 and continued the short lead trend. Neither team had gained a distinct edge in the game to this point.

Both teams continued to weather the storm and make a comeback, with the Lions using two layups and a Samuel Majekodunmi three to make it 51-45 and force a Messiah timeout. The Falcons came out scorching after the timeout, using threes from Criddle and Caleb Light to fuel an 8-0 flurry to take a 53-51 lead and cause a Lion timeout.

With 11:04 remaining in the game, Messiah was shooting 61.5% in the second half to Albright's 50%.
 
Late Lion Run Sinks Falcons
Messiah held a 57-55 lead before two Lion free throws tied it up at 57-57 with 6:32 remaining. A pair of Majekodunmi treys helped give Albright the lead back at 63-61. An Albright free throw pushed their lead to 64-61 with 3:41 remaining before a Messiah turnover forced a timeout.

A Smoot three made the score 67-61 and continued a 10-4 late Albright push. EJ Porter then gave the Falcons momentum with a big three to make it 67-64 before a layup made it 69-64 Albright. A turnover and a foul sent the Lions to the line with just 1:43 left in the game.

Albright converted both from the line to make it 71-64. Two more Lion free throws and a Sareyka three made the score 73-67 with just 44.1 seconds remaining. Albright knocked down their free throws down the stretch and came away with a 78-69 victory.
 
What's Up Next
As mentioned, Messiah drops to 8-8 overall on the season after the loss and will be back in MAC Commonwealth action Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. at Lebanon Valley College.