GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Men's Basketball team was in action at home on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University 88-70. The teams traded buckets early, but the Golden Wolves used an offensive surge midway through the first half to pull away. Alvernia held onto the lead throughout second half to walk away with the win. Caleb Lyles had 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Ben Wert had 14 points and five rebounds.
 
Up next, the Falcons are back at home against Hood College on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7:00 p.m.
 
First Half
Alvernia started the game up 5-0, but Caleb Lyles scored at the rim through contact, converted the free throw, and then drained a three to give the Falcons a 6-5 lead with 16:53 to play in the half. Over the next few minutes, Myles Herbert scored twice for Messiah, and Johnny McBride scored in the paint as the teams traded baskets, with Alvernia now leading 15-14. After two free throws from Caleb Lyles, Alvernia led 18-16 with 12:07 to play in the half, but the Golden Wolves would go on a 24-3 run to make it 42-19 with 3:03 left in the half. Jordan Edwards-Saliu scored while getting fouled with less than two minutes to play, converting the free throw, and Caleb Lyles added another bucket, but the Golden Wolves took a 48-27 lead into the half.
 
Second Half
Johnny McBride opened the second half scoring with a layup to make it 48-29. Ben Wert and Paul Coty IV both added baskets for the Falcons, but Alvernia kept rolling on offense, leading 61-35. Messiah's offense then found some rhythm, outscoring Alvernia 8-2 over the next three minutes after two three-pointers from Ben Wert and a layup from Johnny McBride. The Golden Wolves then scored eight straight to build their lead back up with 9:17 left to play in the game. Over the next five minutes, Caleb Lyles, Jordan Edwards-Saliu, and Johnny McBride all scored in the paint for Messiah, with Lyles also hitting a three to make it 79-55. Avery Kopcha had nine points in the final four minutes for Messiah, including two threes. Jack Rushe and Declan Hersh also scored down the stretch for the Falcons, but the Golen Wolves left Grantham with an 88-70 win.
 
Stats
Caleb Lyles had 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Ben Wert had 14 points and five rebounds. Jordan Edwards-Saliu had eight points and eight rebounds, and Johnny McBride had eight points and seven rebounds. Avery Kopcha added nine points. The Falcons shot 38.7 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from three. The Golden Wolves shot 51.5 percent from the fields and 33.3 percent from the field.
 
Up Next
The Falcons are back at home against Hood College on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7:00 p.m.