GRANTHAM, Pa. – Senior Erik Fisher totaled 22 points and 12 rebounds as the Stevenson University men's basketball team opened MAC Commonwealth play with a 74-55 win at Messiah College Wednesday night at Brubaker Auditorium.

Fisher posted season highs in both points and rebounds and recorded his second double-double of the season for the Mustangs as he went 9-18 from the floor.  Stevenson (2-4,1-0 MAC Commonwealth) also got 16 points from sophomore Sean Mayberry and 15 from senior Christian Roberts.  Mayberry grabbed 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, while Roberts handed out five assists.

Geoff Boyle paced Messiah (3-3, 0-1 MAC Commonwealth) with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Clippinger added 13 points.

Stevenson never trailed and scored the game's first seven points, with a Fisher three 1:32 into the game giving the guests an early seven-point cushion.  An 11-0 run capped by a Mayberry basket gave the Mustangs an 18-5 lead with 13:19 left in the first half, and Stevenson took its largest lead of the first half, 39-20, with 2:29 left on a layup by Roberts.  The Mustangs led 41-26 at intermission.

Messiah was able to get the lead down to 14, 46-32, with 17:34 left on a Boyle basket, but a 9-2 spurt capped by a Kelvin Van Vuuren basket with 12:27 to go pushed the lead back to 21, 55-34.  Stevenson maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way, pushing the lead to 24 on two occasions.

The Mustangs shot 51.4% in the first half and a season-best 49.2% for the game while limiting the Falcons to 34.5% shooting for the contest.  Stevenson outrebounded Messiah 40-36 and committed just nine turnovers, its second lowest total of the season, and forced 14 giveaways en route to a 21-7 lead in points off turnovers.

Stevenson returns to action Saturday afternoon when it travels to Lycoming College for a 3:00 MAC Commonwealth contest.