GRANTHAM, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Basketball put four players in double-figures, but the Eagles could not overcome a 2-for-20 night from deep in a 72-59 loss at Messiah University. The Eagles (0-7) shot over 50 percent (22-of-42) from inside the arc, but struggled from deep and made only 9-of-19 from the foul line in the loss. Sam Gallardo again led the Eagles with 14. 

Eastern made 14-of-29 from the floor in the first half, but the host Falcons (3-6) made 5-of-12 from behind the arc to forge a 40-33 halftime edge. After Messiah split a pair of free throws to go up 1-0, Everett Lewis made a 3-pointer from the wing to put the Eagles up 3-1. The Falcons would attempt just one more free throw in the half and finished the game 3-for-6 from the line, but the Eastern 3-pointer turned out to be the bigger anomaly. The Eagles missed their next ten efforts from afar and went nearly 27 minutes of game time without connecting. 

Even with the struggles from distance, the Eastern team stayed in the contest with points in the paint. William Blet scored all 10 of his first-half points in the paint. The senior forward finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in his second game of the season. The Eagles had 22 points in the paint in the half.

Eastern closed the gap to 63-56 with three minutes to play, but a Messiah  3-pointer by Will Young IV bumped the hosts back to a nine-point edge, and the Falcons would hold on for the win. Kaeshawn Ward finished with 13 points and a pair of steals, and Jaron Fairweather had 12 points, eight rebounds, and a pair of assists. While the Eagles got only five points off their bench, every Falcon that played scored at least one basket.

Eastern and Messiah will play in St. Davids tomorrow night. That game will tip off at 7:00 pm.