GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Men's Basketball team dropped the Messiah Tip-Off Tournament consolation game, on Saturday afternoon, falling 90-68 to the Sea Gulls of Salisbury University. The Sea Gulls had a big lead halfway through the first half, but the Falcons closed the gap down to two points before a late Sea Gulls run got the lead back to double digits heading into the half. Salisbury controlled the second half, winning the game comfortably. Caleb Lyles led Messiah with 18 points. Johnny McBride had nine points and eight rebounds. Avery Kopcha added 10 points.
 
Up next, the Falcons are at home against the Shenandoah University Hornets on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7:00 p.m.
 
First Half
Caleb Lyles opened the scoring with a layup on the Falcons first possession, but Salisbury went on a nine-point run to take a 9-2 lead with 16:19 left in the half. Lyles stopped the run with a basket, followed by baskets Myles Herbert and Quint Fryer to begin to close the gap. Salisbury kept up their offensive pressure, but Messiah converted a few free throws to keep the score close, trailing 18-12 with 11:14 in the half. Caleb Thompson made a layup to get Messiah within four points, followed by buckets from Johnny McBride and Myles Herbert after a Sea Gulla basket, with Messiah down just two points, at 20-18 and 8:12 left in the half. Miles Longacre got his first basket of the games as the teams traded buckets over the next few minutes, with Salisbury still leading 25-23 with 6:28 to play in the half. Salisbury got the next bucket, but Johnny McBride responded with a dunk to keep the Salisbury lead to three with 5:22 to go in the half. However, after the dunk Salisbury would outscore Messiah 19-12 over the last five minutes to take a 47-37 lead into the half.
 
Second Half
Messiah outscored the Sea Gulls 9-4 in the first three minutes of the half to cut the lead to five points. Avery Kopcha made a three and added another bucket during this stretch, with Ben Wert and Miles Longacre also adding points for Messiah. However, Salisbury would go on a 15-0 run over the following three minutes to push their lead to 20 points, at 66-46. Declan Hersh made a layup to stop the run with 13:52 left in the half, but Salisbury continued to grow the lead, up 24 points with 10:32 remaining in the half. Caleb Lyles made a three and Avery Kopcha added a bucket to get Messiah back within 20 points, but another small Sea Gulls run pushed the lead to 25, at 79-54 with 7:44 left in the half. Salisbury would hold off Messiah the rest of the way, keeping their lead above 20 points, taking the game 90-68.
 
Stats
Caleb Lyles led Messiah with 18 points. Johnny McBride had nine points and eight rebounds. Avery Kopcha added 10 points. Myles Herbert had eight points with five assists.
 
Up Next
The Falcons are at home against the Shenandoah University Hornets on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7:00 p.m.