OWINGS Mills, MD – On Wednesday evening, the Messiah men's basketball team suffered a setback to the Mustangs 69-55. Both teams struggled in the first half shooting under 3- percent from the field. However, the Falcons did just enough thanks to
Christian Jackson's eight points to be all knotted up at 20-20 after one half of play. Through the opening four minutes of the second half, the Falcons were able to keep it close grabbing a 35-34 lead. Stevenson however, got hot from beyond the arc. The Mustangs would shoot over 50 percent from three-point range to go on a 14-0 run putting the Falcons in a double-digit deficit. From that point on, Messiah would cause a few scares, even cutting the lead to 56-49 with 4:11 remaining. Despite the strong effort it was not enough to mount the comeback, dropping the road loss 71-58.
Up Next
The Falcons will Hosts Hood College Saturday, Feb. 1st.
How It Happened
First Half
Both teams struggled through the opening two minutes, however,
Christian Jackson would break up the silence with a layup of his own to spark the Falcons. Over the next four minutes, Messiah would go on a 9-3 run to take a hold of an early 9-3 lead. The Mustangs, however, would capitalize off a seven-minute Falcon drought. Stevenson would use an 8-3 run to cut the Falcons lead to 12-11 with just four minutes remaining.
Avery Kopcha would be the lone scorer during the Mustang run. Jackson once again found his way to the rim for a tough layup to stall the Mustang momentum. However, Stevenson would receive help from the referees, going to the free throw line for four straight points to capture their first lead of the game at 14-15. Through the last two minutes of the half,
Caleb Lyles,
Cole Fisher, and Jackson provided the Falcons enough offense to enter the half all knotted up at 20-20.
Second Half
Through the opening four minutes of the second half, the Mustangs were able to hold off the Falcons, matching them point for point to hold a 27-26 lead.
Jordan Edwards-Saliu, Kopcha, and Fisher would all knock down baskets over the next four minutes to regain a 35-34 lead at the 12:39 mark. However, the Stevenson defense would ramp up, holding the Falcons scoreless to a 14-0 run to grab their biggest lead of the game leading 48-35. Fisher would stall the run with a three of his own, followed by an Edwards-Saliu layup to give some life to Messiah with just under seven minutes to play. However, despite Fishers and-one play, the Mustangs continued to shoot above 50 percent from beyond the arc to extend their lead back to double digits at 56-43. Just under five minutes to play,
Cameron Thompson would provide a spark with back-to-back threes cutting the Mustang lead to 56-49. However, Stevenson continued to fend off the Falcons run to put the game out of reach leading 64-53 with one minute left in the game. The final minute consisted of multiple free throws for the Mustangs to close out the game 71-58.
Stats
Cole Fisher finished the game with a team high 16 points.
Christian Jackson would rack up six assists on the night to go along with nine points.
Jordan Edwards-Saliu once again picked up a team high seven rebounds for the Falcons.
What's Up Next
The Falcons will host Hood College Saturday, Feb 1st at 4:00p.m.