ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Despite holding the visiting Messiah University Falcons to seven second-half field goals, Eastern University Men's Basketball dropped an 80-76 decision in overtime. The Falcons (8-6, 3-2) hit a game-tying 3-pointer with seven seconds to play to send the game to overtime.

The Eagles (10-4, 3-2) led 43-38 at the half, but found themselves trailing 55-52 at the midpoint of the second half. Jaron Fairweather found Kevin Reeves for a lay-up and then hit a short jumper to put the Eagles up 56-55 with 9:41 remaining in regulation. Messiah's Dylan Cuperus hit a hook shot to put the Falcons up 57-56 with 9:18 on the clock. The Falcons would not make another basket until the game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds.

The Eagles, however, could not pull away as Messiah played tough defense and hit free throws. The Falcons shot 12-of-15 from the line in the second half and led 64-62 with three minutes left in regulation. Brian Jackson scored on a put-back to tie the game and Fairweather finished inside for a two point lead with under a minute to play.

Fairweather came up with a steal to give the Eagles an extra possession and Messiah was forced to foul. Kaeshawn Ward hit the front end of the one-and-one, but his second shot rolled out and the visitors had a chance. The Falcons came out of a time out and got a look for Evan Parker from a couple steps outside the three-point arc. The shot hit nothing but net. The Eagles had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Fairweather tried to slip a pass through a tight window to Reeves and was turned away.

The Eagles trailed early in the overtime, but led by one on a Draig Cooley basket after another Fairweather steal. With Zubair Lee fouled out of the game, the Falcons went inside to take the lead and again after Sam Gallardo tied the score with a free throw. Ward had a tough jumper rim out with four seconds to play and the Falcons hit two free throws down the stretch for the final margin. Messiah's Tim Edwards scored eight of his 18 points in overtime.

Fairweather led the Eagles with 20 points and three steals, and Davin Hernandez and Kevin Reeves scored in double-figures off the bench. The Eagles shot only 38.5 percent from the floor for the game and finished 9-of-17 from the foul line.

Eastern and Messiah are now two of the four teams tied for second in the MAC Commonwealth.

The Eagles are at Albright on Wednesday evening.