OWINGS MILLS, Md. – In its final home game of the 2023-24 season, the Stevenson University men's basketball team rallied from a 25-points second half deficit but could not complete the comeback in n 85-83 loss to Messiah on Tuesday night.
 
The Mustangs (8-16, 2-11 MAC Commonwealth) had a chance to tie the score at the end of regulation, but, a jumper by Cameron Sapienza rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.
 
Stevenson got a game-high 29 points from Cameron Smith who went 10-for-14 from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from the three-point line. Mason Jones had 11 points off the bench and Kole Beaman added in ten for the Mustangs.
 
Messiah (6-18, 2-11 MAC Commonwealth) got 18 points each from Bryce Coletti and Cam Koscinski.
 
Stevenson trailed 67-44 with 15:25 left in the game, before going on a 26-12 scoring run to get the deficit to under ten at 79-70 with 3:54 left on a jumper by Kole Beaman. Messiah would score lone last field goal at 3:21, a three-pointer by Koscinski, before Stevenson score four straight baskets. The last one came with 1:03 left as Beaman hit a three-pointer to get Stevenson within two at 82-80.
 
Smith's three-point play with 16 seconds left put Stevenson within two at 85-83. Messiah would miss a foul shot with 12 seconds left, but Stevenson could not score on two attempts at the basket.
 
Stevenson committed just eight turnovers in the contest, and will head to Alvernia on Saturday.
 
Before the game, the Mustangs honored Sapienza and manager Ernie Butler for their dedication to the program.