YORK, PA – The York College men's basketball made their home debut a memorable one as the Spartans outlasted Messiah College 73-69 in overtime on Tuesday night in York.

RECORDS

York (Pa.): 3-1

Messiah: 2-2

TEAM STATS

FG Shooting (%): York 29-for-64 (45.3%), Messiah 26-for-65 (40.0%)  

Three Point Shooting (%): York 4-for-20 (20%), Messiah 10-for-31 (32.3%)

Free Throw Shooting (%): York 11-for-15 (73.3%), Messiah 7-for-14 (50%)

Rebounding: York 48, Messiah 35

Assists: York 13, Messiah 14

Turnovers: York 21, Messiah 18

Blocked Shots: York 3, Messiah 1

Steals: York 9, Messiah 11

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• The Spartans' home opener could not have gotten off to a better start as the Green and White sprinted out to a 14-3 lead a mere four minutes into the game. The start was capped off by back-to-back three-pointers from freshman guard Jared Wagner.

• Messiah wasted little time in getting back into the game as they on a 14-6 run, cutting York's lead to 20-17 with 11:57 left in the first half.

• York pushed their lead back to eight but the Falcons responded with a 9-0 run to take a 26-25 lead with 5:07 left in the half.

• The Spartans answered back with a 12-3 run to take a 37-29 lead with under a minute and a half left in the opening stanza. The teams would trade baskets to end the half as York led 39-31 at the intermission.

• York looked in total control midway through the second half as they pushed their lead to a game-high 14 points on a Wagner lay up with 12:11 remaining in regulation.

• The Spartan lead stood at 12 points (58-46) when Matt Scamuffo drained a three pointer with 7:11 left in the second half.

• Messiah would go on to outscore York 15-3 to force overtime. Rob McWilliams hit a jumper with 40 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

• The Falcons took an immediate lead on the first possession of overtime as Logan Long got a lay up off the overtime tip off.

• The Spartans recaptured the lead on a Blayde Reich lay up with 4:03 left in OT. Jason Bady made it 67-64 on a follow up to a missed lay up with 3:33 left. After a Messiah bucket, Dalton Myers made it 69-66 with a nifty lay up off a Reich assist. Scamuffo slipped through the Falcon defense for a lay up with 1:14 left, putting York up 71-66. The Falcons quickly got back to 71-69 with a Neil Murren three with 1:02 left in the overtime period.

• The Falcons got a missed three-pointer and a missed follow up before Wagner captured the defensive rebound and was fouled with two seconds left. Wagner sank both freebies, securing the win for York.

SPARTAN LEADERS

Jared Wagner: 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

Matt Scamuffo: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

Dalton Myers: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 blocked shot

Zack Galic: 8 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steal

FALCON LEADERS

Neil Murren: 15 points, 6 rebounds

Josh Clippinger: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals

Colin Sareyka: 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals

Rob McWilliams: 11 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, 1 steal

GAME NOTES

The victory snaps the Spartans' four game losing streak against the Falcons as the Green and White improves to 12-9 all-time against Messiah … senior Dalton Myers is now 40 points away from reaching 1,000 for his career … freshman Jared Wagner had a career-high with 13 points including a pair of first half three pointers … junior Zack Galic tied his career-high with 10 rebounds in the win … the Spartans' 21 turnovers were a season high … Messiah scored 16 points off York's 21 turnovers … York has allowed 20 three-pointers in their last two games as F&M was 10-for-21 while Messiah was 10-for-31 … The Spartans outrebounded Messiah by 13 boards, it is the first time in four games that the Spartans have had the advantage on the glass … York is now 3-2 in home openers under head coach Matt Hunter … the win over Messiah is the first for seniors Dalton Myers and Brad Wesner.

UP NEXT

The Spartans return to action on Wednesday, November 30 when they open Capital Athletic Conference play with a trip to Middletown to face the Penn State Harrisburg Lions. Tip time is slated for 8:00 pm.   

AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS COURTESY OF DARRELL HENRY

Jared Wagner photo courtesy of David Sinclair Photography