Box Score OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Stevenson men's basketball battled back in the second half, forcing overtime before converting at the foul line down the stretch in a narrow 74-71 victory against Messiah on Wednesday night in MAC Commonwealth play.
Stevenson (8-5, 4-3 MAC) was paced by a game-high 18 points from KJ Holton. Jalin Jordan posted a clutch 15 points, while McKale Williams and Khalil Richard added 11 each.
Messiah (4-7, 3-3 MAC) held an 11-point lead but could not hold off the late push from the Mustangs. Evan Parker notched a team-high 16 points with Arkeise Claiborne adding 13 off the bench for the Falcons.
- It took some time for both sides to settle in over the opening three minutes with Messiah holding a 5-2 advantage. Holton leveled the score after gathering a loose ball and canning a triple at 15:52.
- Richard splashed in his second bucket of the night, this time from three-point range as Stevenson moved ahead 10-7. The Falcons answered back for a quick 15-14 lead before Jordan handed the advantage right back to the Mustangs.
- Devine brought the Mustangs to within two at 22-20 before Jordan tipped one back to even the score. Holton penetrated into the lane, drawing contact while scoring the bucket and finishing a three-point play, tying the score at 27.
- A pair of quick hoops pushed Messiah back in front by a 32-27 margin as Williams responded on the offensive end the next trip up the floor for the Mustangs. The Falcons were able to maintain the slight edge heading into the half at 35-32. Jalen Jacox converted a runner with just seconds remaining for the final bucket of the opening frame for the Mustangs.
- It took about 3:30 of game time for either side to find the basket as Messiah pushed its lead to six at 38-32. Jacox lined up a triple before Messiah answered right back with a trey ball at 14:54.
- Holton stuck another acrobatic layup through contact, trimming the deficit to 45-41. A quick spurt for the Falcons created a bit of separation before Bryce Colletti had four points of his own, working the Messiah edge to 53-42.
- Jordan dropped in a much-needed bucket for the Mustangs at the 9:05 mark as the hosts looked to mount a comeback from its double-figure deficit. Out of a Messiah timeout, Stevenson got a stop on the defensive end while Jordan stuck a turnaround jumper, which brought the Mustangs to within five at 56-51.
- A pair of foul shots from Williams trimmed the Messiah lead to 56-53. Holton worked it back to a one-possession contest for the Mustangs at the 4:43 mark and raced ahead for a layup off a steal moments later.
- Each side traded baskets with Messiah ultimately pushing its lead to four at 62-59. Jordan went up and under, cutting the deficit to one with 1:33 left.
- Bo Wesley converted inside, knotting the score at 63 before the Mustangs took possession on a held ball. Messiah's final heave came up well short, sending the contest into overtime.
- Stevenson posted the initial three points of the overtime session prior to a timeout about two minutes in.
- Jordan finished in the paint, pushing the Mustangs ahead by five at 68-63. Messiah struggled offensively in the extra stanza, posting its first point at the foul line with 1:41 remaining.
- A tip-in bucket brought the Falcons back to within three before extending the game by fouling. Holton canned one foul shot, but two free throws on the other end from the Falcons worked the Stevenson advantage to 70-68.
- The Falcons added to their total at the line with Tyler Penley sinking three foul shots, trailing 72-71 with 14 seconds left. Quickly fouled, Richard nailed two pressure-packed foul shots to seal the 74-71 victory.
- The Mustangs played in their third overtime game of the season, all inside Owings Mills Gymnasium.
- Stevenson was playing in its first home game during the 2022 calendar year.
- Messiah made just one field goal in overtime as Stevenson built a lead early into the five-minute extra session.
- Holton was just one point shy of a season-high scoring output, previously set against Sarah Lawrence.
- Holton and Jordan posted seven points each in the second half against the Falcons.
- Stevenson continued shuffling its lineup due to health and safety protocols. Merlon Devine entered the starting lineup for the first time since the season opener against Catholic.
- Wednesday's contest featured the top two scoring defenses in the MAC Commonwealth.
- Messiah shot 63.6% from the floor in the opening half, which featured six ties and eight lead changes.
- Stevenson: The Mustangs visit Albright on Saturday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m.
- Messiah: The Falcons host Widener on Sunday, January 16 at 5:00 p.m.
