Men's Basketball News

Messiah College 85, Delaware Valley 74

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - Messiah College went on a 21-2 run in the opening minutes of the second half as the visiting Falcons downed Delaware Valley College, 85-74, in a non-conference game.

The two teams were tied at 36-36 at halftime and then traded baskets to begin the second half. Messiah (5-3) then went on the huge run to open up a 59-40 lead with 12:40 remaining. Femi Akinnagbe and David Henninger had six points apiece in the spurt.

The Falcons led by as many as 20, 63-43, in the second half and they still held a 78-59 advantage with 2:51 to go. Delaware Valley (1-6) made a late charge and scored the next 10 points to make it 78-69 with 1:06 remaining. Mike Thornton keyed the run with four points.
However, Messiah scored seven straight points to ice the game.

Delaware Valley led for the most of the first half thanks to 16 points by Thornton. However, the Falcons tied the game at the break by scoring five points in the last 95 seconds, including a 3-pointer by Akinnagbe at the buzzer.

Thornton, a freshman, had a big afternoon by notching career highs of 31 points, nine rebounds and four steals. He shot 12-for-20 from the field, including a 5-for-10 showing from beyond the arc. Fellow rookies Javon Alston and Isaiah Pinckney followed with nine and seven points respectively for the Aggies.

Messiah placed six players in double figures led by Quinn McCullough's 18 points. He also dished out nine assists. Henninger finished with 17 points while Akinnagbe notched 11 points and nine rebounds.