GRANTHAM, PA. - The Messiah men's basketball team hosted the Shenandoah Hornets Monday afternoon in a non-conference match. In a close game, the Hornets escaped Grantham with a (65-63) two-point victory in the final seconds of the game. Evan Parker led the Falcons with 18 points, while Cole Fisher finished the game with 14 points, two assists, and four rebounds as the Falcons fall to 2-5 overall.
 
The Falcons will be on the road on Saturday, December 9th against Dickinson College.
 
Falcons' Strong First Half
Through the first five minutes of the game, both teams were exchanging baskets, until an Evan Parker three gave the Falcons a 9-6 lead early in the game. From there on the Hornets would continue to keep the Falcons in sight, not giving up a larger lead than four until the 10-minute mark. A tough and-one basket from Cole Fisher, followed by a Christian Jackson layup gave the Falcons a 21-15 lead. The Hornets would continue to score points, not allowing the Falcons to gain much momentum. Until two baskets from Shenandoah gave them a 27-25 lead with five minutes remaining. Parker and Johnny McBride would fire back to regain a 29-27 lead. Over the next two and a half minutes neither team would score until a Fisher layup, which would give Messiah a 31-27 advantage with just one minute left in the half. Shenandoah would finish the half scoring four out of the last five points to cut the Falcon lead at half to 32-31.
 
A Tight Second Half
Messiah would come out the gates strong. The Falcons would go on a quick 6-2 run, with baskets from Caleb Lyles, Bryce Coletti, and Parker. However, the Hornets responded well, despite the Falcons continuing to apply pressure the game was tied at 43-43 with 14 remaining in the game. Two minutes later, Shenandoah would grab a 48-46 lead their first of the second half. From then on, both teams fought hard, exchanging blows with neither giving much ground. Over the next eight minutes Fisher, Coletti, Caleb Thompson, and Parker would all score for the Falcons, and with just five minutes remaining the score was tied at 59-59. For the next two minutes of play, neither team would find the bottom of the next until a Hornets layup would give them a 61-59 edge. Fisher would sink two big free throws for the Falcons with one minute and 33 seconds left in the game to tie it all up at 61 a piece. 46 seconds late the Hornets regained a 63-61 lead. However, a Coletti layup would tie it back up at 63-63 with just 23 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, with just two seconds on the game clock, the Hornets would sink a jump shot giving them the 65-63 victory on the road and dropping the Falcons to 2-5 overall.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be on the road, as they travel to Carlisle, PA for a match up against the Red Devils of Dickinson College. The game is set for 2:00p.m Saturday, Dec 9.