OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Messiah erased a 20-point second half deficit with a buzzer-beating three, and then completed the turnaround in overtime to stun the Stevenson men's basketball team, 75-74, Wednesday night in Commonwealth Conference action at Owings Mills Gymnasium.

Stevenson (9-4, 2-2 MAC) never trailed in regulation, but Aaron DeVan hit a fall-away three for the visitors to send the game to the extra period.  Falcon guard Zac Hoy made one-of-two free throws with six seconds remaining in overtime to break the deadlock and push visiting Messiah (8-5, 1-4 MAC) in front and provide the final margin.

Hoy was one of four Falcons in double-digits as teammate Jimmy Brackett led all scorers with 21 points.  Junior guard Christian Roberts paced the Stevenson attack with 20 points, while classmate Erik Fisher added 17 for the hosts.

Fisher also grabbed eight rebounds for the Mustangs as the outrebounded the Falcons, 40-33, in the contest.

Both teams got going slowly on the offensive end, but after Messiah cut the lead to one at 5-4 three minutes in, the Mustangs scored the next 13 straight points over the course of four minutes to stake to an 18-4 lead with 14:04 left.  Farr scored a pair of buckets down low while classmate Christian Roberts also added four in the spurt.

The visiting Falcons attempted to chip away at the Stevenson lead and got it down to 11, but senior Colby Giacubeno cut the run short for the hosts by drilling a three-pointer from the corner to put the Mustangs up 27-13 with 7:49 remaining.  Giacubeno connected on four of five attempts in the first period, including two from long range.  He finished with ten points in the game.

Stevenson held the visitors at arm's length for the remainder of the half, taking a 39-26 lead into the break.  The Mustangs shot 50.0% (15-of-30) in the first period while limiting Messiah to 40% (10-of-25) from the field and causing 11 turnovers.

In the second half the Mustangs opened up their lead further, scoring the first five points of the period, and nine of the initial 11 in the first five minutes for a 20-pt. cushion, 48-28.  Fisher, Roberts, sophomore Darius Walker and junior Chris Day all made baskets in the run.

Messiah was able to make a run, however, and trimmed the lead to just ten again, 57-47, with 6:04 left following a pair of free throws by Zac Hoy.  After a miss from the charity stripe for the Mustangs, Hoy cut the lead to just eight with a jumper from the top of the key to further an 11-1 run.

Messiah continued its run with a DeVan lay-in and then Hoy hitting a corner three to make it a one-possession game at 57-54 with 3:54 left in the second half.

The two teams went back-and-forth over the next few minutes, but the Falcons came within one of the Mustangs, 59-58, on two free throws by Brackett, before Fisher put the hosts back up three on a lay-in from an assist by Roberts.

Out of the ensuing timeout, Brackett made an easy lay-up to one again cut the lead to one.  Fisher answered for the Mustangs at the other end, though, converting a put-back off an offensive rebound.  With the buzzer sounding, though, DeVan hit his game-tying three.

In overtime, Messiah ran out to an early lead and took a four-point advantage, 72-68, following a jump shot by Geoff Boyle.  Stevenson hung tough, and drew level with just 21 seconds remaining as Walker made an acrobatic lay-up.  At the other end, Hoy drove to the basket and was fouled before making the second of two free throws for the eventual game-winning score. 

Roberts had one last chance for Stevenson, but his last attempt in the lane rattled out to give the Falcons the victory.

Stevenson now continues conference play by hosting Alvernia on Saturday, Jan. 10.  Tip-off at Owings Mills Gymnasium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.