Grantham, Pa. (Dec. 9, 2017) - Messiah College (6-3, 2-1) hit four straight 3s in a 12-2 second half run that opened up a 13-point lead on the way to a 77-66 win over Alvernia University (2-6, 0-4) Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball action at Messiah.

The Falcons had a 50-47 lead with 10:36 to play after a 3 from Alvernia senior Alex Shippen.  They hit a 3 on the next possession to double the lead then with the Golden Wolves going 1-for-4 from the floor over the next two and a half minutes--without any second chances--the Falcons hit from beyond the arc three more times to push the lead to 13.

The lead hit 16 points on four occasions over the final seven minutes and Alvernia could get no closer than the final 11 point margin down the stretch.

Messiah got a game-high 25 points and eight assists from Colin Sareyka.  Alvernia had four players reach double figures.  Mike Miller scored 17 points, Shippen finished with 15, Nick Youngkin had 11, and Keon Taylor added 10.

Alvernia had a two-point lead late in the first half, but Messiah hit two 3s in the final two minutes to take a 33-29 lead at the break.  The Falcons were 8-for-21 from the arc doing most of their damage from long distance in two short spurts.

Alvernia is off for finals week and will return to action on December 20, at Penn State-Brandywine.

Messiah 77, Alvernia 66