GRANTHAM, PA – The York College men's basketball team returned to the court after a two-week layoff and dropped a 68-64 decision to Messiah University in Grantham on Wednesday night. The Falcons went on a 12-2 run over the final 3:19 of the game to pull out the come from behind win.
York is now 2-3 and 0-1 in the league while the Falcons are 5-2 and 1-0 in MAC Commonwealth play.
 
How It Happened
• The Spartans got out of the gates fast as York sprinted out to a 7-0 lead thanks to five points from Jayden Rowe to open the game. York pushed the lead to ten on a Chris Miers triple just over three minutes into the game.
• York's lead grew to a game-high of 11 (16-5) on a pair of Miers free throws two minutes later. The Spartan lead vacillated between four and ten points over the next 11 minutes of game time. The Falcons cut the Spartan lead to four on a Tyler Penley lay-up with 2:08 remaining in the half. The Falcons trimmed York's lead to just two on an Arkese Claiborne bucket with 35 seconds left but Jackson Mascari drilled a three with five seconds left to send the Spartans to the locker room with a 33-28 lead.
• York came out of the break and hit the Falcons with a 7-2 run to take a 40-30 lead just over three minutes into the half. The Falcons responded with a sustained 11-2 run that whittled the Spartan lead to just one at 42-41. Kai Cipalla stopped the run with bucket to put York back up three. After another Claiborne bucket, the teams traded threes as the Spartan lead was again one at 47-46. York answered with a 9-3 run to push the lead back to seven at 56-49.
• Miers drilled a three with 3:49 left in the game as the Spartans went up 62-56. Claiborne started the game-ending Messiah run with a bucket 30 seconds later as the Falcons embarked on their comeback. Claiborne drilled a three with 2:20 left, cutting York's lead to one at 62-61. The Spartans missed a three on their ensuing possession and then committed a turnover to give the ball back to the Falcons. Messiah made the most of the opportunity as Evan Parker hit a three with 52 seconds left to give the Falcons a 64-62 lead. It was Messiah's first lead of the game.
• The Spartans looked like they had a great chance to tie but York didn't get the call on a lay up attempt and Messiah was able to salt away the win at the line.
 
By the Numbers
Messiah held a huge advantage at the free throw line as they went 14-for-20 while York attempted a mere two free throws … the Spartans finished the game shooting 41.9% from the floor while Messiah shot almost 50% (48.9%) … York tied their season-high for three pointers made as they were 10-for-34 (also 10 makes vs. Manhattanville) … York led for 38:41 of game time while the Falcons led for just the last 52 seconds of the game … York had just 12 turnovers but Messiah made those miscues hurt as they scored 19 points off Spartan turnovers … York had ten steals and that's the third time this year they reached double figures in thefts … York was whistled for 18 fouls compared to just nine for the hosts… Arkese Claiborne finished the game with 32 points while Tyler Penley was the other Falcon in double figures with 13 points.
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans have now lost two straight to Messiah as the all-time series is now tied at 11 wins each … York placed three in double figures led by Chris Miers as he notched a season-high 19 points and a season-high tying three steals … Jackson Mascari added 14 points and five rebounds … Jayden Rowe chipped in with 12 points and three rebounds … Kai Cipalla added seven rebounds and two steals to the Spartan effort … York has dropped two straight … the Spartans two free throw attempts were a season-low for York.
 
Up Next
The Spartans conclude their season-opening six game road trip on Saturday as they head to Eastern University to face the Eagles in a MAC Commonwealth contest. Tip time is set for 3:00 pm in St. David's, PA.