Lebanon Valley Takes Shocker From Falcons, 68-65
Sophomore Ryan Nicholas' nine points on four of four shooting was not enough to avert disaster in the end.

Annville, PA — It was clear that the Messiah College men’s basketball team fully understood the magnitude of Tuesday night’s MAC Commonwealth match-up at Lebanon Valley College long before the game ever started, perhaps being too ready.

For the first time this season, the Falcons opened a contest watching an opponent shoot a pair of technical free throws, being whistled for illegally dunking in pre-game warm-ups.

Sadly for Messiah, the spectacle was only the beginning of an absolutely bizarre night, one that would find the Falcons on the wrong end of a 68-65 score in the most salty of finishes.

Lebanon Valley (10-14, 4-5) utilized a nine to two run over the game’s final 3:28 to steal victory from the hands of defeat, leaving Messiah head coach Rick Van Pelt — and a strong contingent of fans — nearly speechless afterward.

“This was, without question, one of the most disappointing losses in my time here,” he said. “Games come down to the stretch like that, and you’ve got to make the right things happen. For us tonight, it was a combination of three, four, five or six things that added up to cost us the game.”

Even with LVC being spotted two points before the game’s opening tip, it was Messiah (15-9, 4-5) that appeared the hungrier — and more confident — team. A three-pointer from sophomore Andy Hawk gave Messiah a 3-2 lead just moments into play, while a layup from classmate Josh Curtin gave the Falcons a 10-9 advantage with 16:04 to play in the opening half.

Messiah would not trail from that point forward until the game’s final two seconds, a fact engulfed in the team’s palpable disappointment afterward.

Sophomore Ryan Nicholas made a nifty post basket to give Messiah a 41-34 advantage at halftime, a lead made possible by a scorching 15 of 22 first-half shooting performance from the floor (68.2 percent).

The Falcons had answers for every LVC push throughout the second period, answering a brief, 47-47 tie with another three pointer from Hawk at the half’s 11:31 mark.

A made free throw from senior Darryl Brown gave Messiah a 63-57 advantage with 3:28 to play, and it appeared Van Pelt’s team — after controlling the majority of the game — would hang on for a win.

Needing a win to stay alive for a possible post-season berth, Lebanon Valley had other ideas.

The Dutchmen’s Kyle Enoch hit a deep three on LVC’s next possession, cutting the Falcons’ lead in half. A missed three pointer from Hawk on Messiah’s next trip was followed by a made free throw from LVC’s Dan Hodge, and Messiah led by a 63-61 score.

Van Pelt drew up a set to get Hawk the ball inside on the Falcons’ next offensive sequence, but Hawk’s shot rolled around the rim before falling out, giving the hosts another opportunity to get closer. A hanging layup from Enoch tied the score at 63-63, and Van Pelt called a timeout.

Needing a basket to restore order, senior Jonathan Boyd came up clutch.

With the shot clock winding down and no clear passing options available, Boyd drove the ball hard into the lane from the right wing and put up a runner, calmly swishing his fourth bucket of the night with 1:20 to play.

Messiah then forced LVC into a miss on its next possession, but came up empty on its next offensive trip.

Now trailing by a 65-63 score, LVC’s Dustin Kerns drove hard on the Dutchmen’s next possession, drawing a foul on sophomore Kyle Snyder with just nine seconds to play.

Kerns made just one of two, however, and Hawk pulled down the board.

Outletting the ball to Boyd, the Falcons’ best free throw shooter was fouled immediately. Only seven seconds remained.

With a 65-64 lead in hand and a one and one opportunity at the free throw line, his first shot came up just long.

After a fight for the rebound, it was LVC’s Hodge that came up with it, spinning out of traffic and firing a 65-foot laser of a pass to a streaking Kerns down court.

Kerns caught the pass and went in for the layup, running over Curtin in the process.

With the officials electing to let the players decide it, no whistle was blown. Kern’s shot banked off the glass and found the bottom of the basket, giving Lebanon Valley a 66-65 lead with just 2.3 seconds to play.

Again, Van Pelt called a timeout.

Again, LVC came up with a play.

With Messiah needing to go the length of the floor, an LVC defender got a hand on the Falcons’ inbounds pass, deflecting the ball off of Brown’s shoulder to give possession back to LVC. Following a quick Messiah foul, the Dutchmen’s James Shin made both free throws, making the score 68-65 with 2.1 seconds on the clock.

Van Pelt’s team launched a desperation, full-court pass that was deflected by a group and wound up in the hands of junior Jason Miller, who fired an off-balance three pointer as time expired.

His shot was short, and LVC had escaped with the remarkable win.

Hawk led Messiah’s scoring pace with 16 points. He also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Boyd was the Falcons’ only other double-figure scorer with 11 points, while Curtin, Miller and Nicholas all tallied nine points apiece.

Messiah will next face Albright College at home on Saturday in the regular-season finale. The Falcons could finish anywhere from third-place in the final league standings to fifth place, depending on Saturday’s outcome along with the remainder of the league slate.

A Tuesday win would have assured Messiah a post-season berth, as only the MAC Commonwealth’s top four teams advance to the conference tournament.

“We were obviously a very disappointed group in the locker room following the game,” Van Pelt said. “But I reminded them that, earlier in the year, I told them I had never been more proud of a team in all of my time coaching. When did I say that? After we played Albright the first time. It’s kind of ironic that we’ve got Albright up next. I told the guys that I’ll prepare as hard as I can, and I’ll give it my best effort if they’ll give me theirs. We’re going to try to play our best basketball on senior night and see how things shake out in the league.”

Messiah will honor seniors Boyd and Brown at Saturday’s home finale. Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Brubaker Auditorium.