Box Score

The Albright College men's basketball team hosted the Falcons of Messiah College in their first conference game of the season Tuesday night in the Bollman Center. A late push wasn't enough for Lions as they fell to Messiah 81-75.

The  2011-12 Commonwealth Conference champion Falcons came in at 4-0 to start the season after winning their own Home-wood Suites Tip-Off Tournament and adding victories over Penn State-Harrisburg and York.

The Lions kept it close early before a 21-7 run by the Falcons resulting in a game-high 18-point lead with just under four minutes to play before half time. Junior guard Zac Hoy (19 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds) and senior Taylor Groff (23 points, 15 rebounds) carried Messiah to a 37-20 lead at the half.

After shooting only 5-for-23 as a team in the first half and committing 16 turnovers the Lion offense came to life in the second half. Strong play from seniors Pedro Perez (22 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 rebounds) and Kyle Jordan (13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal) led the Lion comeback. A big 3-pointer from senior Reuel Moore brought the deficit down to five with less than nine minutes to play.

Two minutes later freshman Sameen Swint (13 points, 7 rebounds) added a 3-pointer of his own to make it a 60-57 game. After a Perez trey brought the Lions within two at 64-62, the Falcons began to build back their lead.

Sophomore Calvert Gantz also played well for Albright, scoring 13 points with five rebounds and five blocks, but despite four players scoring double-digit points the Lions couldn't overcome their first half mistakes.

Albright is now 1-2, and 0-1 in conference play, on the season. The Lions will play another 2011-12 conference champion when they travel to face 2-2 Misericordia on Saturday at 3 p.m.