GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Men's Basketball team was at home on Wednesday night, falling to the Blazers of Hood College, 80-62. In the first half, the teams traded buckets early, but the Blazers pulled away to take a double-digit lead into the half. Messiah started strong in the second half, using a big run to get within 11 points, but Hood finished strong to win 80-62. Caleb Lyles had 22 points and seven rebounds for Messiah. Johnny McBride had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Edwards-Saliu had seven points and 12 rebounds.
 
Up next, the Falcons are back in action at home against York College on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 4:00 p.m.
 
First Half
Myles Herbert hit a three to open the scoring just under a minute into the game. Jordan Edwards-Saliu quickly added a basket to make it 5-3 Messiah. A couple Blazer buckets gave Hood the lead before Johnny McBride finished at the rim through contact to make it 7-7 with 17:17 to play in the half. Hood would respond with a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to take a 17-7 lead. Caleb Lyles added four points for the Falcons, but the Blazers lead grew 15, with Hood leading 26-11 with 12:19 to play in the half. Over the next six minutes, Lyles added six more points, and McBride added a bucket, but Hood still led by 15. Freddy Herbst and Myles Herbert both added points at the line as the Falcons tried to cut into the Hood lead. Ben Wert then hit a three for Messiah to make it 41-27, Hood, with 3:41 left. Johnny McBride added four more points for Messiah in the half, but the Blazers took a 49-31 lead into the break.
 
Second Half
Messiah got early baskets from Jordan Edwards-Saliu and Caleb Lyles to make it 49-35. Lyles, Edwards-Saliu, and Johnny McBride added a basket each over the next five minutes, but Hood still led, up 61-40 with 13:39 to play. The Falcons then began to find their rhythm, going on an 11-2 run over the next four minutes to make it 62-51. During the run, Ben Wert had five points for Messiah, and Caleb Lyles adding six. However, Hood would respond well to the run, outscoring Messiah 17-6 over the next eight minutes. Avery Kopcha and Myles Herbert each scored for Messiah in the final minute, but the Blazers held on to win 80-62.
 
Stats
 Caleb Lyles had 22 points and seven rebounds for Messiah. Johnny McBride had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Edwards-Saliu had seven points and 12 rebounds. Ben Wert added eight points. Messiah shot 37.9 percent from the field and 16.0 percent from three. Hood shot 41.1 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from three.
 
Up Next
The Falcons are back in action at home against York College on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 4:00 p.m.