GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Men's Basketball team traveled to Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pa. for a matchup against the Phoenix this afternoon, picking up a 94-89 win on the road. Both teams put up 50 points in a high scoring first half, with Messiah trailing at the break. The Falcons then used a strong second half effort to come away with the win. Ben Wert led all players with 26 points. Johnny McBride had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Edwards-Saliu added 16 points.
 
Up next, the Falcons are back in action at home on Wednesday Dec. 3, at 5:30 p.m. against McDaniel College.
 
First Half
The teams came out even to start, battling to a 7-7 tie through the first three minutes. Ben Wert had five points for Messiah during the early minutes, with Johnny McBride also adding a bucket. Over the next few minutes, Messiah added a couple free throws, but the Phoenix took a five-point lead, 15-10, with 14:32 to play. The teams continued to trade buckets over the next five minutes, with the score tied 31-31 and 9:14 to play in the half. During this stretch, Miles Longacre, Avery Kopcha, and Ben Wert all hit three-pointers for Messiah, with Johnny McBride and Declan Hersh also adding points on the offensive side. The Phoenix used a seven-point run over the next minute to take their biggest lead of the half, up 38-31 with 8:09 to play. Over the next five minutes, Jordan Edwards-Saliu added six-points, Ben Wert added five, and Caleb Lyles added a basket, but the Wilson lead stayed at seven points, with the Phoenix up 50-43 with 2:51 left in the half. The Falcons outscored the Phoenix 8-4 to close out the half, trailing by just three points at the break, 54-51.
 
Second Half
Jordan Edwards-Saliu finished on a fast break and Ben Wert hit a three to tie the game 56-56 early in the second half. Ben Wert followed that up with another three to give Messiah the lead, 59-56, with 17:43 to play in the half. Jordan Edwards-Saliu then finished through contact, converting the and-one to give Messiah their biggest lead of the game so far, 62-56. Wilson responded with a 10-2 run to take the lead back, 67-64, with 13:24 left in the half. Johnny McBride and Ben Wert each added a basket to give Messiah the lead back, 68-67, with the teams then trading baskets over the next few minutes, with the Falcons still up one-point, 74-73. Caleb Lyles scored off an offensive rebound and Declan Hersh spun and finished at the rim, drawing and foul and completing the three-point play to push the Messiah lead back to six points, at 79-73. Wilson cut the lead back to three points with 6:30 left to play, but a layup from Johnny McBride put the Falcons lead back to two scores, at 83-78. Four free throws over the next few minutes would give Messiah a nine-point lead with 4:16 to play, up 87-78. Wilson scored six straight points to get back within three of Messiah, but once again Johnny McBride stopped the momentum with a bucket, with the Falcons leading by five, 89-84. Messiah hit clutch free throws down the stretch to hold onto the lead and pick up the win, 94-89.
 
Stats
Ben Wert led all players with 26 points. Johnny McBride had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Edwards-Saliu added 16 points. Caleb Lyles had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Avery Kopcha added 10 points.
 
Up Next
The Falcons are back in action at home on Wednesday Dec. 3, at 5:30 p.m. against McDaniel College.