GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah men's basketball team claimed its first victory of the 2021-22 season, a 69-57 home decision over Clarkson University in Hitchcock Arena on Friday night. Will Young IV tallied a team-high 19 points as Matt Glogowski (12) and Arkese Claiborne (10) each contributed double-figures in scoring.
 
The Falcons used a commanding 12-1 run that lasted 3:41 mid-way through the second half to run away with the contest. The scoring run featured six points from Matt Glogowski and three points each from Evan Parker and Michael Healy.
 
Young IV tallied Messiah's opening eight points of the game. Young IV notched the first bucket of the night for the Falcons, an open lay-up created by a great pass from Bryce Coletti to level the score at 2-2. The senior forward converted an and-one opportunity at the 16:56 mark, giving the Falcons their first lead of the contest (5-4). Messiah built its lead to four after Healy drilled a corner three-pointer to increase the advantage to 11-7, assisted by Caleb Light. In the opening five minutes of play, the Falcons were shooting hot, converting 4-of-6 attempts from the floor.
 
Tyler Penley got himself on the board with 11:43 remaining, reeling in an offensive rebound and laying in the put-back attempt to give Messiah a 15-10 edge. Making his first appearance of the season, forward Glogowski issued his first bucket of the season on a pull-up jumper at the 10:00 mark. The Falcons had a seven-point lead (19-12) with under eight minutes remaining as Young IV continued to dominate the post. The forward received a slick pass from Coletti to increase the Falcons' lead to 23-15. Coletti's keen eye on the assist was his third of the game, dishing out a fourth assist on a driving layup with 5:53 remaining to increase the Messiah lead to 25-18.
 
The Golden Knights used a 7-0 scoring spurt to pull within two points (27-25) with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Young IV silenced the scoring run, converting another and-one opportunity after grabbing an offensive board and finishing with contact under the hoop. The graduate forward led Messiah in scoring at the half with 15 points as the Falcons entered halftime with a 32-30 lead.
 
Clarkson, in the beginning of the second half, claimed its first lead of the game since leading 4-2 early in the first half. At the 19:08 mark, Donte Jofield connected on a three-pointer to give the Golden Knights a one-point edge (33-32). The lead did not last long, as the Falcons went on a quick 6-2 scoring run to retake a 39-34 advantage.
 
Parker tallied his first basket of the game with a floating layup effort at the 15:12 mark to increase the Messiah lead to 44-38. Following a technical foul on the Golden Knights, the Falcons used momentum to build a 10-point lead with just over 13 minutes remaining. As part of a 6-0 run that began with Parker's floater, Messiah benefited from a strong offensive rebound by Young IV, converting the second-chance points when Healy drilled his second three-pointer of the contest. The triple gave the Falcons a commanding 48-38 advantage.
 
The Falcons continued to pour it on, increasing the lead to 15 points (54-39) when Glogowski cashed a mid-range jumper, prompting a Clarkson timeout with 11:46 remaining in the game. After the momentous scoring run for the Falcons, the game leveled out for the following six minutes of play with the two sides trading baskets. During that six-minute span, the Golden Knights outscored Messiah 12-11, bringing the deficit to 65-51 with five minutes remaining.
 
Messiah cruised through the remaining five minutes of play, earning its first victory of the 2021-22 season, a 69-57 defeat of visiting Clarkson.
 
The Falcons shot 46.7% (28-60) from the floor throughout the game as Young IV reeled in a game-high 12 rebounds, completing his first double-double of the season.
 
What's Next Up
Messiah (1-1) clashes with Rowan University (1-0) in Hitchcock Arena tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. for the Championship Game of the Towneplace Suites Tip-Off.