GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah men's basketball team dropped a home decision to Rowan University, 111-89, in the Towneplace Suites Tip-Off Championship Game in Hitchcock Arena on Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss, Arkese Claiborne recorded a career-high 28 points behind a 9-for-17 shooting performance. Bryce Coletti also made big offensive contributions, tallying 23 points, also a career-high mark.
 
Will Young IV and Claiborne were named to the Tip-Off All-Tournament team for their efforts this weekend.
 
The first half of play was fast-paced as visiting Rowan began the game employing a full-court press on the Falcons. The Profs, with their frantic pressure on Messiah's backcourt, jumped out to a commanding 25-9 lead in the opening 7:07 of the contest. During the 25-9 scoring run, Rowan shot 11-of-19 from the floor, draining three triples.
 
The Falcons answered with a dominant scoring spurt of their own, taking a 30-27 with nine minutes remaining in the first half. The scoring run, a 21-2 outburst in only 3:22 of gameplay, featured the Falcons connecting on 6-of-7 shots distributed throughout five different scoring contributors. Claiborne scored seven of his 14 first half points during the scoring run.
 
Rowan responded to the adversity well, closing out the remaining 8:12 of the first half by outscoring Messiah, 30-18, taking a 57-48 lead into the break. Claiborne and Young IV each had 14 points in the first half as the Falcons out-rebounded the Profs, 28-23. In addition to his 14 points, Young IV led all players with seven rebounds in the first half.
 
The Profs came out and played a great second half, outscoring the Falcons in the period, 54-41. Rowan seized on fastbreak opportunities to build a lead as big as 13 with only nine minutes remaining. For just over a four-minute stretch (16:13-12:04), Coletti scored 12-consecutive points for Messiah.
 
The highlight of the second half for the Falcons occurred with 8:11 remaining in the contest when Arkese Claiborne threw down a two-handed dunk to cut the Falcons' deficit to 11 (85-74).
 
In total, Messiah had four players record double-digits scoring. In addition to Claiborne and Coletti notching their career-highs, Will Young IV scored double-digit points for the second-consecutive night as Evan Parker had 10 points. Young IV completed a double-double with a team-high 12 boards while Claiborne supplemented his high-scoring afternoon with four blocks and three steals.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah (1-2) will go on the road to play Dickinson College this Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 8:00 p.m.