GRANTHAM, Pa. -- Messiah converted a go-ahead basket with under one minute remaining and followed it up with a key defensive stop as the Stevenson men's basketball team dropped a 60-59 road decision in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth action. 

An important late-season clash in the compacted MAC Commonwealth standings, Stevenson (10-10, 6-8) found itself on the wrong side of an evenly-played second half once again. The last two losses for the Mustangs have come by a combined four points as Khalil Richard swished two late free throws and a last-second heave from Ronald Ayers missed the mark. 

Richard led the Mustangs with 13 points and four steals as Jalen Jacox added 11 points. Messiah (9-10, 7-6) pushed its winning streak to four games, paced by a game-high 21 points from Will Young IV. 

Arkese Claiborne notched 15 points (3-4 3FG), while Tyler Penley posted 14 points and eight boards for the Falcons. 

• Messiah opened up a 14-5 lead to begin the game before the Mustangs settled in about midway into the opening half. Jacox onverted a three-point play, bringing Stevenson to within 14-8. 
• Jacox continued a spurt on his own as the Mustangs trailed by one. 
• Penley converted from deep and Young IV added a stickback basket of his own, pushing the Falcons back ahead by six at 21-15 with 8:38 left in the half. 
• Choppy play continued with consistent fouls whistled on both teams as the clock ticked down near the six-minute mark. The foul trouble impacted Messiah's lineup as Claiborne and Bryce Coletti went to the bench, providing the Mustangs a chance to battle back. 
• After an offensive rebound from Bo Wesley extended the possession, he drove into the right block and kicked out a pass to an open KJ Holton, who sank a triple from the right corner to put an end to a Messiah scoring run. Moments later, Davon Jones converted a falling floater in the lane as the Mustangs worked the deficit to 23-20. 
• Following a technical foul, Richard leveled the score at 25 at the charity stripe. Young absorbed contact on the right block during the next Falcon offensive chance, notching a game-high 15 points in the frame and lifting the hosts to a 28-25 advantage. 
• Swiping the Messiah defensive rebound, Damon Koskovich made one of two at the foul line, leveling the score at 28 at the intermission. 

• Penley splashed home a pair of triples before the Mustangs answered with consecutive baskets, which included a three from Ronald Ayers. 
• The Falcons continued their torrid shooting from long range, working the lead to seven and forcing a Stevenson timeout at 15:57. From there, both sides went cold for the next few minutes. 
• Merlon Devine slashed in to end the scoreless stretch before Nate Arrington and Jacox added baskets, kickstarting a 10-0 run for the Mustangs, which moved in front at 45-42. 
• Messiah retook the lead off a steal and score from Claiborne as the sides went back and forth. Jacox added a putback hoop, pushing Stevenson ahead 51-48 with 5:39 left. 
• Cameron Smith converted a driving basket to hand the lead back to the Mustangs before Messiah tied the game back up at 54. 
• Off an inbounds play, Richard pulled up for three to keep the Mustangs in front. Claiborne missed a pair of foul shots down by one as Stevenson regained possession with under one minute remaining. 
• Following a blocked shot, Young pulled up to pull Messiah in front at 58-57 and the Falcons got the ball back after a tie up on the other end. Following two foul shots put the Mustangs down 60-57. 
• Messiah fouled Richard, sending him to the line for a one-and-one. Richard made both foul shots with just one second left and a long heave on the ensuing inbounds pass from Messiah was stolen with the potential game-winner missing the mark. 

• The combined margin of victory between the two meetings with Messiah and Stevenson was just four points. 
• McKale Williams returned to the lineup for the Mustangs, leading the team with five rebounds. 
• Messiah made its first four three-point baskets in the second half, but also endured a stretch of over seven minutes without a basket. 
• Once again Stevenson owned a big advantage in bench points, outscoring the Falcons by a 35-2 margin with the reserves. 
• Stevenson entered the contest just one spot behind the fourth-place Falcons in the MAC Commonwealth standings. The top four teams in the league standings will host a home playoff game in the MAC Commonwealth Quarterfinals on February 23. 
• Stevenson and Messiah played an overtime contest inside Owings Mills Gymnasium back on January 12, with Stevenson earning the 74-71 road win. 
• Stevenson has finished out the road portion of the 2021-22 regular season. 

• Stevenson: The Mustangs are back home on Saturday, February 12 when they host Widener at 3:00 p.m. 
• Messiah: The Falcons visit Alvernia on Saturday, February 12.