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READING, Pa. – With 23 seconds remaining on the clock and the Lions trailing by one senior Zac Shaeffer went to the free throw line looking to give Albright (10-4/3-1 Commonwealth) a one-point lead over conference opponent Messiah College (6-7/1-2 CC). The Lampeter native hit both shots and with a solid defensive stop on the final Falcons possession, Albright managed to hang on to earn their first conference win of 2011 with a 63-62 decision Saturday afternoon in the Bollman Center.

Along with Shaeffer's clutch shooting, fellow senior Matt Ashcroft also had a standout afternoon as he recorded his first double-double of the year. The Reading native not only put up a game-high 17 points he also pulled down a game and season high 10 rebounds. Overall Ashcroft shot an impressive 50% from the field on 5-of-10 shooting.

From behind the arc he was 4-for-6, while at the line he was a perfect 3-for-3. As a team the Lions were solid from start to finish when it came to the free throw line. The red and white recorded a season best 90% at the strip as they went 9-for-10, which included a perfect 7-for-7 in the second half.

Junior forward Shane Irwin also closed out Saturday's match-up in double-figures as he totaled 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, and 4-of-4 shooting at the charity strip. The 6'5” New Jersey native also came up with two blocks and managed one steal as well.

Messiah's afternoon was fueled by a trio of double-figure scorers. Led by Jeremiah Runkle's team-high 15 points, the Falcons shot 46% on the day. Andy Hawk and David Fernandez combined for 25 points respectively. Runkle and Hawk were also the team's top rebounders pulling down nine and six boards as well.

After a first half, that saw the score deadlocked at 28 each, the two teams exchanged control of the scoreboard throughout the final 20 minutes of play. The Lions opened the half with an early run that saw them take a 33-28 lead. Messiah cut that lead down to one, but was never able to retake control of the scoreboard.

By the 13 minute mark, the Lions clawed their way back to a seven point lead following a quick 6-0 run. Messiah quick to respond never allowed, the Lions to take more than five point lead. With just under four minutes to play, Albright was hanging on barely. Ashcroft gave his team some breathing room after going 3-for-3 at the line, after he was fouled in 3-point land.

Even with a four point advantage, a clutch three from Messiah's Tyler Ritzman made it just a one-point game with 2:35 left on the clock. A missed lay-up by the Lions, gave the Falcons a window of opportunity to jump out to their first lead of the half. Not wasting the chance, the Falcons once again turned to Ritzman who nailed a jumper to make it 62-61. After a slew of missed jumpers and lay-ups from both squads, Albright got the ball back with just 23 seconds remaining in the contest.

Following the Messiah foul, Shaeffer went to the line to shoot the one-and-one. As the senior approached the strip, the crowd in the Bollman Center became silent. Shaeffer calmly hit his first shot to even the score at 62-62. After a timeout by the Falcons, Shaeffer returned to the line to shoot the deciding shot. Once again the reigning conference player of the year nailed the shot to give his squad the go-ahead basket.

Still stuck with 23 seconds on the clock, the Falcons got the ball back. Personal changes for both teams, would set up the final drive of the afternoon. Fernandez would be given the ball in hopes of give the Falcons the buzzer beater victory. The 6'4” freshman managed to get right under the basket and with eight seconds on the clock put up his first attempt. Hitting off the back of the rim, the ball bounced to teammate Chris Yoder.

Now with four seconds left, Yoder tried for the win, with his shot also bouncing off the back of the rim. As the ball came down and time just ready to expire, freshman Kyle Jordan stepped up and grabbed the rebound for the Lions.

Saturday's win improves the Lions all-time record against the Falcons to 37-18 since their first meeting in the 1984-85 season.

Men's basketball returns to the Bollman Center next Wednesday when they host Widener University at 8 p.m. in a conference match-up.