Box Score OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Stevenson University men's basketball team erased a 13-point halftime deficit and tied the game 56-56 with just under three minutes left, but visiting Messiah held on for a 59-58 MAC Commonwealth victory Friday night at Owings Mills Gymnasium.
- Stevenson (0-3, 0-3) got back-to-back baskets by McKale Williams and Bo Wesley to take an early 4-0 lead.
- Messiah (1-2, 1-2) hit back-to-back three-pointers to go up 6-4 at the 17:18 mark.
- The Falcons extended their lead to 10, 18-8, with just over 11 minutes to go in the first half.
- Seven straight points by junior Merlon Devine pulled the Mustangs within five, 20-15, at the 5:37 mark.
- A 15-4 run by the guests gave Messiah its largest lead of the game, 35-19, with just over two minutes left before intermission.
- Williams connected on a three with just over a minute left in the opening frame to make it 37-24, the halftime score.
- The two teams traded baskets over the first six minutes of the second half, with a conventional three-point play by the Falcons making it 48-34 with 14:10 on the clock.
- Messiah led 54-42 at the midway point of the second half following a Bryce Coletti three-pointer.
- Stevenson held the Falcons to one basket over the next seven-plus minutes and utilized a 14-2 run to the the game 56-56 on a basket with Ethan Jones with 2:45 left.
- Evan Joseph connected on three three-pointers during the run, including back-to-back treys at 5:35 and 3:48 that cut the lead from eight to two.
- The run also featured a Christian Rodriguez three and a conventional three-point play by Wesley.
- Evan Parker made 1-of-2 at the line with 1:09 left, and two free throws by Coletti with 25 seconds left made it 59-56.
- Jones sank two free throws after being fouled going to the basket with 15 seconds left to pull Stevenson within one.
- Parker missed the front end of a one-and-one with 12 seconds left and Jones grabbed the carom.
- After calling timeout with six seconds remaining, and another one after getting a look at the Falcon defensive alignment, Stevenson inbounded but turned the ball over with 1.5 seconds left.
- Cam Carter was fouled with 0.3 seconds left and missed the front end of another one-and-one, but Stevenson had no opportunity to get a final shot off.
- Devine led the Mustangs with 15 points, 11 of those coming in the first half. He finished 7-15 from the floor, including 6-7 inside the arc, and also grabbed six rebounds.
- Wesley finished 5-7 from the floor and totaled 12 points and six rebounds. His 12 points matched his career high.
- Joseph narrowly missed a double-double with nine points while matching his career high with 10 boards. Joseph also dished out three assists.
- Stevenson outrebounded Messiah 48-36, including 17-9 on the offensive glass.
- The Mustangs finished at 34.8% shooting for the contest, including 7-35 behind the arc, and were 5-7 at the free throw line.
- Messiah shot 37.3% overall but was limited to 31% shooting after intermission. The Falcons were 8-23 behind the arc and 7-12 from the free throw line.
- Stevenson and Messiah complete their home-and-home series Saturday, February 20 at 7 pm at Messiah's Hitchcock Arena.
