ST. DAVIDS, Pa. — After Saturday's incredible comeback and late-game heroics at Stevenson, Eastern University Men's Basketball took a more direct route to a victory with a wire-to-wire 90-57 MAC Commonwealth win over the visiting Messiah University Falcons. The Eagles scored 21 of the first 23 points in the game and led 30-7 midway through the first half. Olise Onyeka posted 16 points and 12 rebounds in limited minutes to lead five Eagles in double-figures and pick up his seventh-straight double-double.

"Coming into this game," Head Coach Dan Pruessner said. "I was really kind of worried. After the big comeback on Saturday and perhaps even looking ahead to Hood, I felt like we would have to be focused and hit some shots to win this game."

After seeing the Eagles pound the ball inside over the past weeks, Messiah came into the game committed to taking away the post. To start the game, the Eagles remained committed to the inside. Their first nine baskets came at the rim and they built a 21-2 lead only five-and-a-half minutes into the game.

When the Falcons (4-12, 0-5) sagged deeper, the Eagles set their feet and hit shots from outside. Over the next seven minutes, Eastern hit 5-of-6 from deep and stretched the lead to 42-15. Nick Mate hit four long-range efforts for twelve points in the burst.

DaRon Sherman, the only Eastern starter not to reach double-figures, finished his day with an early basket, three steals, and a career-best ten assists. The junior guard had just one turnover in 27 minutes on the floor.

At half, Eastern led 56-24 after shooting 58.3 percent from the floor with 6-of-10 from behind the arc. Dejuan Taylor had 14 of his 16 points before halftime, and Onyeka had 12 points and eight rebounds at the break. Messiah got inside scoring from Johnny McBride with 12 points, but their senior post player picked up his third foul before intermission.

Even without Mate on the floor, five different Eagles made second-half 3-pointers. Eastern finished 11-of-25 from behind the arc and had season-best 23 team assists. Connor Fleet had 13 points and eight assists.

McBride finished with a game-high 23 points.

The Eagles (6-10, 3-2) now hit a tough stretch of road tests starting this Saturday at Hood College. The Blazers (14-2, 5-0) are ranked in both polls and have scored over 100 points in three of their five league wins. They beat Alvernia 104-94 tonight. After Hood, the Eagles will go to Reading twice before hosting Widner on Feb. 4.