GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah men's basketball team clinched a tight home decision over Stevenson University, topping the Mustangs 60-59. Will Young IV led all scorers with 21 points as Arkese Claiborne (15) and Tyler Penley (14) each notched double-digit scoring figures for the Falcons.
 
The victory is Messiah's fourth-straight victory, improving its 2021-22 overall record to 9-10 (7-6 MAC Commonwealth). Bryce Coletti dished out six assists as Penley nailed three shots from beyond the arc.
 
Young got the Falcons off to a fast start, scoring six of Messiah's opening 11 points. Messiah shot an impressive 5-of-7 from the floor in the first five minutes of the contest as Arkese Claiborne and Bryce Coletti each contributed field goals. The Falcons held on to a 14-5 advantage at the 13:36 mark before the Mustangs rattled off eight-straight points, pulling within a one-point deficit (14-13). Coletti halted the Stevenson run, cashing a pull-up jumper for his second field goal of the contest.
 
Penley got on the board at the 9:25 mark, draining a three-pointer, his first field goal of the game. The triple put Messiah ahead by four points (19-15) before a layup from Young on the following possession increased the lead to 21-15.
 
The Mustangs outscored the Falcons in the final eight minutes of the first half, 13-7. Young, who finished the half with a team-leading 15 points, scored all of Messiah's seven points in those final eight minutes as the two sides were knotted up heading into the break, 28-28. Claiborne (4), Coletti (4), Penley (3) and Dylan Cuperus (2) all notched points for the Falcons in the first half as the team shot 40.7% (11-27) from the floor.
 
Penley knocked down a three-pointer to get things going for the Falcons in the second half at the 18:57 mark. Within the same minute of action, the senior forward drained another triple, giving Messiah a six-point edge (34-28). The Mustangs scored five-consecutive points to pull within a one-point deficit, 34-33, before Penley notched his third three-pointer of the half. The made shot from beyond the arc was his fourth of the contest Coletti assisted the attempt. Claiborne added to the three-pointer madness in Hitchcock Arena with a triple of his own at the 16:01 mark, prompting a Stevenson timeout. With 16 minutes left on the clock, the Falcons owned a 40-33 lead.
 
Claiborne notched a layup following the timeout, the sophomore guard's ninth point of the game. Following Claiborne's layup, the Mustangs used a momentous 10-0 scoring run to take their first lead of the second half, 45-42. Stevenson connected on 5-of-7 attempts during the scoring run, using three different point scorers.
 
The Mustangs' run was interrupted by a pair of made free throws from Coletti, pulling Messiah within one point, 45-44, with just under eight minutes (7:55) remaining in the game. Claiborne tallied Messiah's next five points, highlighted by a steal at the 6:54 mark, finishing the layup in transition with contact. There was nothing to separate the two sides with 4:08 remaining on the clock, tied at 52-52.
 
The Mustangs broke the deadlock at the 2:10, converting a shot from beyond the arc to take a 57-54 edge. Penley answered on the other end with a smooth left-handed hook shot, making a stellar defensive play on the following possession by taking a gritty charge in a crowded lane.
 
Young gave the Falcons a late lead with a dramatic jump shot from the elbow with just 42 seconds left, sending Hitchcock Arena into a frenzy. Leading by just one point, 58-57, Messiah outlasted the Mustangs on a strong defensive possession, earning the ball on a loose ball tie-up in which the possession arrow favored the Falcons. Coletti earned a trip to the free throw line, increasing the lead to three points after connecting on both efforts. Stevenson proceeded to inbounded the ball from the sideline with just three seconds left as Penley issued a smart foul with just one tick left, sending the Mustangs' Khalil Richard to the line for two shots. Richard made both attempts as Stevenson stole the inbound pass at the half court line with just one second left. Nate Arrington jumped the passing lane on Messiah's inbound pass, heaving up a half-court shot at the buzzer. The shot was off the mark, giving Messiah a mere 60-59 decision.
 
What's Next
The Falcons travel to Reading, Pa., to take on Alvernia University this Saturday, Feb. 12, at 3:00 p.m.