GRANTHAM, Pa. – It was another tight loss for the Messiah men's basketball team. The Falcons pulled within one point in the final minutes, but fell by a 62-58 final against the Stevenson Mustangs on Wednesday Night.
Tyler Penley led the Falcons with 21 points and 16 rebounds in an impressive double-double, but it was not enough as the Mustangs kept their postseason hopes alive.
It was a slow opening half with Stevenson holding a 20-18 lead after 20 minutes of play. While the scoring picked up for both teams after the break, Messiah was unable to break through.
Messiah will wrap up the 2022-23 season on Saturday when they travel to Lebanon Valley at 1:00 p.m.
How It Happened
In a slow opening first-half, the Falcons and Mustangs combined for just 38 total points in the first 20 minutes of play. The two sides struggled to find their rhythm from the field with Stevenson shooting 9-31 from the field (29.0%) and Messiah connecting on six of their 31 attempts (19.4%). With so many rebounds up for grabs,
Tyler Penley snagged 12 boards in the opening half.
After
Arkese Claiborne connected on a three with 10:36 remaining in the half, Messiah cut Stevenson's lead to three at 15-12. Over the next six-plus minutes, Messiah was held scoreless, but held the Mustangs to just one bucket to remain within five points. The scoring picked up slightly as the game closed in on the half with Stevenson holding a 20-18 lead at the break.
After the half, the scoring got started with Messiah netting the first bucket with a layup from
Bryce Coletti to tie the game at 20-20. After a layup from the Mustangs,
Tyler Penley knocked down a three to give Messiah a 23-22 lead. The Mustangs took the lead back with seven-straight points to pull ahead 29-23.
Over the next 10 minutes, Stevenson held the lead, but Messiah pulled within five points on multiple occasions and within four at 45-41 after an
Evan Parker three. Following Parker's three, Stevenson rattled off eight of the next 10 points to take their lead to 10 points at 53-43.
Starting with a floater from Parker, Messiah started chipping away at the lead in the final five minutes. With a minute left, back-to-back free throws from Parker pulled Messiah within one at 58-57. A three-pointer from Stevenson's Cameron Smith in the final minute put the Mustang's up multiple possessions at 61-57.
A costly turnover after the Mustangs' three cut Messiah's momentum. Each team made one free throw in the final minute as the Falcons fell 62-58 in their final home game of the season.
What's Up Next
The Falcons will wrap up the season on Saturday when they travel to Lebanon Valley at 1:00 p.m.