CHESTER, Pa. – The Messiah Men's basketball team fell in closely contested battle to the Widener Pride on Saturday afternoon, falling 89-79. The teams traded buckets early, before Messiah used a small run to take a small lead halfway through the half. Widener fought back to tie the game going into the half. The teams continued to go back and forth throughout the second half, before Widener pulled away late to win. Caleb Lyles had 21 points. Jordan Edwards-Saliu had 14 points and nine rebounds. Ben Wert had 13 points, four assists, and four rebounds.
 
Up next, the Falcons are back home on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7:00 p.m. against Albright College.
 
First Half
Jordan Edwards-Saliu scored the first four points of the game to give Messiah an early 4-0 lead. Caleb Lyles and Myles Herbert added buckets, and Avery Kopcha hit a three, with the teams tied 11-11 and 14:46 left to play in the half. Messiah then went on an 8-0 run to take a 19-11 lead, with Johnny McBride and Caleb Lyles each scoring four points during the run. Widener ended the run with a three-pointer, but Michael Bischoping responded with a three of his own to put the lead back at eight. A six-point run by Widener followed to make it 22-20, Messiah, but Jordan Edwards-Saliu went down the floor, scoring and drawing a foul. He completed the three-point play to make it 25-20, Messiah, with 8:13 left in the half. Caleb Lyles converted four free throws for the Falcons, but Widener tied the game 29-29. Michael Bischoping then got away on a fastbreak, throwing down a dunk to give Messiah the lead back. The Pride tied it before Bischoping scored again, with the teams now trading baskets. Johhny McBride and Myles Herbert both scored down the stretch for Messiah, with the game tied 37-37 going into the half.
 
Second Half
Widener scored first in the half to take the lead back, but another and-one from Jordan Edwards-Saliu gave Messiah the lead, 40-39. Widener then began to roll on offense, leading 47-42 with 15:52 to play. Avery Kopcha hit a three for the Falcons and Jordan Edwards-Saliu scored again in the paint, but the Pride lead stayed at five points, up 52-47 with 14:02 to play. Caleb Lyles hit a layup with 13:36 to play and Ben Wert got fouled behind the arc, converting all three free throws to tie the game 52-52. Widener took the lead back with a three, but two straight baskets from Ben Wert and Caleb Lyles gave the Falcons the lead, 56-55. Wert added two more buckets with the Falcons still leading, 62-61 and 9:33 remaining in the game. The Pride then began to take over, going on a 10-point run to take 71-62 lead with 5:49 to play. Avery Kopcha hit a three to stop the run, but a couple Widener baskets pushed the lead to 11, up 76-65. Caleb Lyles, Johnny McBride, and Ben Wert each grabbing baskets for Messiah in the final minutes, but they couldn't close in on Widener, who held on to win 89-79.
 
Stats
Caleb Lyles had 21 points. Jordan Edwards-Saliu had 14 points and nine rebounds. Ben Wert had 13 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Johnny McBride had nine points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Avery Kopcha had ten points, and Michael Bischoping added seven points.
 
Up Next
The Falcons are back home on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 7:00 p.m. against Albright College.