GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Men's Basketball had their final home game of the season on Wednesday night, falling to the Eagles of Eastern University 80-58. The Falcons had an early lead through the first four minutes, but a few scoring runs from Eastern helped give them a double-digit lead heading into the half. The Eagles kept up the offensive pressure in the second half to walk away with the win. Avery Kopcha led the Falcons with 12 points, while Caleb Lyles added 11 points. Freddy Herbst had nine points and seven assists.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Owings Mills, Md. for a matchup at Stevenson University on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
 
First Half
It was a low scoring first four minutes, with Eastern hitting a three before back-to-back buckets from Myles Herbert and Jordan Edwards-Saliu gave Messiah a 4-3 lead with 15:42 to play in the half. The Eagles offense got rolling over the next four minutes, going on a 10-0 run to take a 13-4 lead. Caleb Lyles hit a three to stop the run, but the Eagles responded with seven quick points to extend the lead to 13, up 20-7 with 8:22 to play in the half. Freddy Herbst scored two straight baskets for Messiah to get the Falcons back within 10 points, trailing 20-11. Eastern would then go on another run, scoring nine straight points to make it 30-11 with 2:28 to play in the half. In the final two minutes, Avery Kopcha hit a three for the Falcons and Caleb Lyles hit a pair of free throws, but the Eagles took a 33-16 lead into the half.
 
Second Half
Johnny McBride scored in the paint and Avery Kopcha hit a three to give the Falcons five quick points to start the half. A block from Jordan Edwards-Saliu then lead to a dunk from Johnny McBride to make it 36-23, Eastern, with 18:00 minutes to play in the half. Over the next four minutes McBride, Edwards-Saliu, Caleb Lyles, and Declan Hersh all added buckets for Messiah, but Eastern still led 48-31. Avery Kopcha hit a three, followed by a layup from Caleb Lyles to make it 48-36 with 11:44 remaining in the half. Eastern continued to make shots, but Freddy Herbst hit from three and scored in the paint to make it 53-42. Eastern scored six straight points to make it 59-42 before Jack Rushe hit a three for Messiah with 7:03 left to play. Over the next few minutes, Avery Kopcha hit a three and Jordan Edwards-Saliu scored in the paint, but the Eagles still led, up 65-52 with 4:26 to play. Miles Longacre banked in a three and Quint Fryer scored at the line in the final four minutes, with but Eastern held on to win 80-58.
 
Stats
Avery Kopcha led the Falcons with 12 points, while Caleb Lyles added 11 points. Freddy Herbst had nine points and seven assists. Johnny McBride and Jordan Edwards-Saliu each added six points.
 
Up Next
The Falcons travel to Owings Mills, Md. for a matchup at Stevenson University on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m.