READING, Pa. – The Messiah Men's Basketball team traveled to Reading, Pa. on Wednesday night for matchup against the Albright College Lions, 83-68. The Falcons led early, but a big run to end the half gave Albright a lead which they never gave back, taking the game by double-digits. Caleb Lyles had 15 points and seven rebounds. Freddy Herbst had 12 points and seven rebounds. Johnny McBride had 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Up next, the Falcons are back in action on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2:00 p.m.
 
First Half
After a defensive stalemate through the first two minutes, Avery Kopcha opened the scoring with a three-pointer to give Messiah a 3-0 lead. Albright scored seven straight points to take the lead before a Caleb Lyles layup made in 7-5, Albright. Lyles added four more points over the next few minutes, and Johnny McBride scored in the paint, but Albright still led 13-11 with 11:33 to play in the half. Caleb Lyles then scored through contact to tie it, and then converting the free throw to give the Falcons a 14-13 lead. However, the Lions responded with a 14-point run to take a 27-14 lead with 7:44 to go in the half. Jordan Edwards-Saliu hit a jumper to stop the run, but Albright extended the lead to 15, leading 31-16. Myles Herbert hit a pull up three, Johnny McBride hit a pair of free throws, and Avery Kopcha scored for the Falcons over the next few minutes, back within 11. Freddy Herbst then scored back-to-bac buckets to make it 35-28, Albright, with 58 seconds to play in the half. The Lions would score the last basket of the half, taking a 37-28 lead into the break.
 
Second Half
Jordan Edwards-Saliu, Johnny McBride, and Caleb Lyles all scored in the first five minutes of the half for the Falcons, but the Lions lead grew back up to 15 points with 15:02 to play. Myles Herbert hit a pull up jumper with 13:16 remaining in the half, but Albright still led, 54-36. Avery Kopcha, Caleb Lyles, Freddy Herbst, and Paul Coty IV all scored over the next few minutes, but the Lions continued to push the pace on offense, leading 66-44. Herbst added another bucket, and Declan Hersh got fouled, but scored and dropped in the free throw for the three-point play. Over the next two minutes, Hersh, Caleb Lyles, Jordan Edwards-Saliu, and Johnny McBride all added baskets for Messiah. Freddy Herbst knocked down five free throws in the last two minutes, and Quint Fryer scored in the paint, but the Falcons fell 83-68.
 
Stats
Caleb Lyles had 15 points and seven rebounds. Freddy Herbst had 12 points and seven rebounds. Johnny McBride had 10 points and five rebounds. Jordan Edwards-Saliu had six points and 11 rebounds. Avery Kopcha added nine points, and Myles Herbert had seven points.
 
Up Next
The Falcons are back in action on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2:00 p.m.