Box Score
The Albright College men's basketball team scored just 16 points over the first 15 minutes of the second half as the Lions fell 66-52 Saturday to the Commonwealth-leading Messiah Falcons.
Senior
Derek Hall had team-highs with 13 points and seven rebounds for the Lions. Freshman
Jevin Zimmerman added seven points and
Dave Singleton had five assists.
A tight, but exciting first half ended tied at 24 after Hall drained a buzzer-beater three pointer that had an enthusiastic student section going crazy.
Kyle Jordan drove for two right off the tip, but it was a slow start for both sides. A
David Fernandez drive made it just 4-2 Messiah after four minutes of play.
The Falcons would soon lead by nine, the biggest gap of the half.
Derek Mosley was good for three to make it 7-2, with Singleton responding at the other end with a dunk. Messiah answered then stole the inbounds pass, leading to
Brad Bolen's triple. After a Singleton stutter step jumper,
Zach Hoy beat the shot clock buzzer for three to make it 15-6 Falcons.
Hall helped Albright fight back, finishing a spin move in the post to make it 15-10, then sinking a trey to cut the deficit to two.
Reuel Moore's three-pointer helped the Lions inch to within one, and Singleton then found
Zach Benjamin for a lay-in and an 18-17 home advantage.
Tom Paul later spotted up from 25 feet out to keep the Lions within a point, at 22-21.
Fernandez hit a long three and then a tough bank shot early in the second half to put Messiah ahead 34-26. After the Lions missed three straight from the free throw line, Mosley gave Messiah the game's first double-digit lead with a basket.
Albright got a steal on the press that led to Zimmerman's three. Hoy answered with a dagger three however, and then got open behind the arc again for a 44-31 Falcon advantage.
The Lions grabbed two offensive rebounds on a possession that allowed Perez to finally get to the rim for two, making it 44-33 Messiah.
Jeremiah Runkle fought for a tip-in and Mosley threw a lob to Bolen on the break as the Falcons began to pull away.
Fernandez had a game-high 18 points, while Hoy added 15 and Mosley chipped in with 12. Runkle pulled down 12 boards.
Coaches from both teams participated in Coaches vs. Cancer weekend, wearing suits and sneakers to raise awareness for the American Cancer Society.
Albright falls to 11-8, 2-6 and will travel to Lycoming on Wednesday.
