Messiah Captures Split Result In York White Rose City Classic
Freshman Colton Reitz scored a career-high 12 points in Messiah's win over William Patterson.

York, PA — A pair of highly competitive games resulted in a split for the Messiah College men’s basketball team in this weekend’s York College White Rose City Classic, as the Falcons got past a tough William Patterson University squad 64-60 in overtime Friday only to drop a 69-66 decision to Nazareth College in Saturday’s championship contest.

Messiah (5-4, 0-0) used a 45-33 advantage in total rebounds and a 25 of 38 performance from the free throw line (65.8 percent) to offset a less-than-stellar night of offense on Friday, as the Falcons made just 17 field goals in the overtime win over the Pioneers. Messiah made just 17 of 57 shots from the field (29.8 percent) while William Patterson (8-2, 1-0) connected on 21 of 45 attempts (46.7 percent), but was able to hang on for the overtime win after an impressive second-half comeback.

With the Falcons leading 25-22 at the half, William Patterson opened the second period with an 18 to four run to turn the tide en route to a 40-29 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in regulation. A three pointer from junior Drew Sneeringer helped ignite a 14 to three Falcon push, however, and with 5:18 to play the score was 44-43, Pioneers.

A huge three from freshman Colton Reitz changed a 49-47 William Patterson lead into a 50-49 Messiah advantage with 1:36 to play, and senior Darryl Brown converted one of two free throws to make the score 51-49, Falcons, with just 26 seconds on the clock.

After the Pioneers drew a foul and were successful in tying the game on their next offensive possession, it was Reitz again coming up big for the designated home team, scoring a layup with just four seconds remaining off an assist from Sneeringer.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, William Patterson’s Seve Cousins was able to bury a jumper at the buzzer, forcing the overtime stanza in a contest that seemingly no true momentum holder.

That all changed in the extra session, however, as a made free throw from junior Jason Miller and a jumper from Sneeringer opened play. The Falcons would never relinquish the lead – nor score another basket from the field – as Messiah converted on nine of 12 overtime charity tosses (75 percent) to outscore the Pioneers by an 11 to seven count.

Brown led the scoring for Messiah, charting 13 points on just a four of 12 performance from the floor. Reitz was the only other double-figure scorer for the game, notching 12 points on a three for five shooting effort.

Messiah’s dominance on the glass was done by committee, as Brown, Reitz and sophomore Kyle Snyder each grabbed six rebounds. Sophomore Andy Hawk secured five boards.

Facing a talented Nazareth College (7-1, 3-1) team in Saturday’s championship, Messiah could not hang on to an early lead in perhaps its most bitter loss of the season to date. An early explosion pushed the Falcons to a 24-8 lead just 10 and a half minutes in while Messiah clamped onto a 35-25 lead at the intermission.

Missed free throws would eventually doom the Falcons, however, as the team converted on a season-low 51.9 percent of its charity tosses (a total 14 of 27 performance) as Nazareth slowly pulled closer. A pair of made free throws from the Golden Flyers capped a 16 to six Nazareth with 9:12 to play, turning a 37-28 Messiah lead into a 44-43 deficit.

The Falcons would regain a four-point lead with 4:55 to play, but ineptitude at the foul line would prove costly: Messiah went to the free throw line eight times in the game’s final 4:25, making just one (12.5 percent).

Meanwhile, Nazareth slowly pulled ahead, helped in large part to the Falons’ performance at the line. A buzzer-beating three pointer from Miller turned a 69-63 Nazareth lead into the final margin.

Hawk led the way for the Falcons offensively, scoring 18 points on an eight for 10 shooting clip. Brown added 13 while Yoder scored 12. Brown was the high rebounder for Messiah, pulling down 10 caroms.

The Falcons will next prep for yet another weekend tournament, as the team will next play in the Marymount University Comcast Challenge beginning Friday. Messiah will take on Immaculata University in the tournament’s first men’s contest. Game time is set for 2 p.m.