FREDERICK, MD. – Even Tyler Penley's career night was not enough to push the Falcons over the Blazers this afternoon. The Messiah men's basketball team dropped a tough two-point loss to the Hood College Blazers 71-69.
 
Tyler Penley was the best player on the floor in the game, generating a game high 27 points and 13 rebounds, earning his fourth double-double on the season. The 27 points were also a career high for graduate student.
 
Messiah is on the road at Alvernia on Wednesday, February 8, at 6:00 PM for their next conference matchup.
 
Action
Hood opened up a 17-11 lead more than halfway into the first half, which would stretch into a 24-15 advantage. Over the last 4:42, the Falcons used a 17-6 run where they went 5-7 from the floor and 3-5 from beyond the arc. Messiah took a 32-30 lead into the break.
 
The Blazers came out of the break on a mission, going on a 9-0 run to take the lead at 39-32 before Rick VanPelt used a timeout to stop the momentum. The Falcons battled back but were down again, this time by nine 67-58 with just over three minutes remaining.
 
Messiah continued to chip away and brought the game to within two with 17 seconds to go as they trailed 71-69. After two missed free throws from Hood, the Falcons had a chance to tie the game or go ahead with less than eight seconds to go. After a timeout, Messiah drew up a play to Cuperus underneath but after not converting Claiborne put up a desperation two as the buzzer sounded but it fell short, ending the game.
 
The Blazers prevailed and won 71-69.
 
Stat Sheets
Tyler Penley had himself a night, with 27 points and 13 boards to complete the double-double. 11 of those came from the free throw line, as Penley went 11-12 from the stripe. As previously mentioned, the 27 points were Tyler Penley's most ever in a contest at Messiah. His previous best was 26 points, which came on February 12^th of last season in 2022 against Alvernia.
 
Evan Parker and Bryce Coletti each had 12 points in the tough loss. The Falcons shot 37% from the floor and 35% from beyond the arc.
 
Up Next
The loss takes Messiah to 9-12 and 4-8 in the conference. The Falcons will travel to Reading, Pa. to face the Alvernia Golden Wolves on Wednesday, February 8, at 6:00 PM for their next action.