Glenside, PA – For the third time this season No. 17 Messiah College followed up a loss with a win, this time defeating Arcadia University 81-70 on the road. The win moved Messiah to 17-3 overall on the season, including 11-3 in the Commonwealth Conference.
 
The Falcons entered the game just 2-2 over their past four games, and 4-3 over their past seven games. Over that seven-game stretch Messiah opponents shot 50% or better four times, compared to just once in the season's first 12 contests. On Saturday the Falcons held the Knights to 48% shooting—perhaps not enough to brag about, but nevertheless enough to get the job done.
 
Messiah led by as many as eight points in the first-half as they executed primarily against the Knights' zone defense. The Falcons did their best to play in the full-court, pressing Arcadia for much of the half to force nine turnovers to the tune of 10 points. Messiah's aggressive attack also led to 20 points in the paint in the first 20 minutes—exactly double that of Arcadia.
 
Despite those strong showings the Falcons held a narrow 33-31 lead at the break.
 
In the second-half Messiah maintained a small lead before jumping ahead 46-38 on a three-pointer by Brad Bolen at the 14:35 mark. Moments later back-to-back three-pointers by Zac Hoy and Scott Bolen put Messiah up 53-43—their largest lead to that point. 
 
With under 10 minutes to play and Messiah continuing to pressure in the full-court, Scott Bolen kept momentum with the Falcons by way of a transition finish and foul at the rim. His free-throw put the Falcons up 61-50. A minute a driving layup by Bolen on the left side put Messiah up 65-53.
 
The Falcons largest lead of the game came soon after, with Taylor Groff scoring in the paint to make it 67-53.
 
Though Arcadia did their best to cut down the Falcons' lead, they could only manage to trade baskets and never got to within less than nine points. With 1:50 on the clock Taylor Groff's three-pointer from the left wing seemed to deflate the Knights as they again fell behind by 14 points, 74-60.
 
Brad Bolen and Groff each finished with 19 points to lead five double-digit scorers for Messiah. Groff also grabbed 10 rebounds as Messiah outrebounded their opponent for the first time in three games. Scott Bolen finished with an impressive stat line of 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. He, Brad Bolen (five), David Fernandez (five), and Zac Hoy (four) combined for 20 of the Falcons 21 total assists—their second-highest total of the season (Rosemont, 25).
 
Torrell Candelaria finished with 19 points to lead Arcadia while Joe Brown added 13 points and nine rebounds. The loss for Arcadia dropped them to 7-13 overall and 2-11 in the Commonwealth.
 
Messiah will look to build a win streak when they host Stevenson University on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 8:00 p.m. The Mustangs handed the Falcons their first loss of the season in mid-January in double-overtime.