GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah men's basketball team dropped its season-opener to visiting Catholic University of America, 80-60, on Tuesday night in Hitchcock Arena. Sophomore guard Arkese Claiborne led the Falcons in scoring with 16 points as Tyler Penley (12) and Will Young IV (10) each recorded double-figures scoring.
 
Claiborne added eight rebounds in addition to his 4-8 shooting performance.
 
The loss drops Messiah's record to 0-1 on the season ahead of two home contests this upcoming weekend.
 
Claiborne scored the first bucket of the season for Messiah at the 18:33 mark, a mid-range jumper to level the early score at 2-2. The Cardinals answered by notching three of their next four shots in the following 2:21, taking a 6-4 edge with 15:32 remaining in the half. Penley recorded a team-high ninem points in the first half of play, earning six of those points in the opening ten minutes or the contest. The senior forward recorded five-consecutive points within the span of 1:06 (10:41-9:35), cutting the Falcons deficit to two (19-17) with 9:35 remaining after draining a triple.
 
The Falcons tied the game, 19-19, at the 8:55 mark after a turnaround jumper from Caleb Light. The Cardinals reacted promptly with a 5-0 scoring run to build a 24-19. In the final 6:59 of the first half, Messiah shot 5-for-9 from the floor, but trailed entering the break, 43-35. Bryce Coletti and Will Young IV each recorded six points in those final minutes as the Falcons ended the half with a 44.8 shooting percentage (13-29).
 
Light and Claiborne were notable contributors in the first half, with Light dishing out six assists and Claiborne reeling in five rebounds.
 
The Cardinals dominated much of the second half, outscoring the Falcons, 37-25. Messiah was working hard to trim its deficit throughout the second half, draining consecutive three-pointers to sneak back within an 11-point deficit (57-46) with 14:29 remaining in the game. Claiborne tallied six-consecutive points from the charity stripe in the final five minutes, but it was not enough as the visiting Cardinals prevailed with the victory, 80-60.
 
Claiborne shot an impressive 8-11 from the free throw line as Young IV added six rebounds to his 10 points.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah (0-1) competes at home this weekend in the Towneplace Suites Tip-Off. The Falcons will clash with Clarkson University in Hitchcock Arena on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., and will compete in either the Tip-Off Championship or Consolation game on Saturday afternoon.