By Jimmy McCumber

The Albright College men's basketball team held off defending Commonwealth champion Messiah in front of a big Bollman Center crowd on Saturday, defeating the Falcons 61-59.

Messiah's Taylor Groff had a chance to send the game into overtime, but senior Dave Singleton swatted his drive away to preserve the victory.

Singleton had another huge day, with game-highs in points (22), rebounds (nine) and steals (five). All five steals came in the first half, and brought him within six of the Albright single season record. Singleton already has more career steals than any other Albright player ever, but two of his seasons came at Division I High Point University.

Freshman Andre Marshall had eight points, including two key three-pointers in the second half. Junior Kyle Jordan had eight points and six rebounds.

Down 40-38, Marshall drained consecutive threes, both from 25-plus feet, to put the Lions up 44-40.

Derek Mosley kept Albright close with a three-pointer, but Singleton hit a turn-around jumper and then found Reuel Moore for a trey, forcing Messiah to call timeout down 53-45. Moore forced a turnover right off the timeout however, and Singleton slashed to the hoop for two more.

With Albright seemingly in control late, a technical foul following a shooting foul resulted in four shots and the ball for Messiah, and the Falcons hit three of them to pull to 57-54.

With the shot clock dwindling down in the final two minutes, Singleton isolated for a big jumper, giving Albright a 61-57 lead that they would ultimately hold onto.

Singleton hit a tough corner jumper as the Lions took an 11-7 lead early in the game. Mosley backed down his man for consecutive baskets however as the Falcons pulled level at 13-13.

After a drought of 7:25 without an Albright field goal, Perez drove for a three-point play and a 17-13 Albright lead. Sam Marrella drained a three from the corner to push the gap to 22-13.

Groff had a nice put-back and a Scott Bolen free throw capped an 8-0 Messiah run late in the first half. The game was tied at 26-26 after Brad Bolen beat the halftime buzzer with a long-range bank shot.

Brad Bolen had 22 points for Messiah, while his brother Scott Bolen added 10. Mosley chipped in with 14 points, as the Falcons continue to battle hard without their top player David Fernandez (out with an injury).

Albright improves to 16-3, 9-3 and prepares for a big first-place battle at local rival Alvernia on Wednesday. Messiah (11-7, 7-5) is in a tie for third place with Lycoming and Arcadia.