The Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team was looking for its second straight victory of 2020 on Saturday night at Messiah, but a cold-shooting night spelled doom, and the Chargers lost to the Falcons, 75-49 in Grantham, Pa. The loss drops the Chargers to 2-7 overall this season, while the Falcons improve to 8-4.
 
How it Happened: Both offenses struggled in the opening minutes of the first half, as the Falcons led just 4-3 six minutes into the contest. Two free throws from William Afoakwah cut the Chargers' deficit to 6-5 with 12:11 remaining, but a 5-0 run from Messiah followed, and the Chargers trailed 11-5 midway through the first half.
 
Lancaster Bible trailed, 20-9 three minutes later, but a 3-pointer from Kaleb Murry and a bucket from Britton Beachy trimmed the deficit to six, 20-14 with 6:13 remaining. The Falcons closed the final five minutes of the half on a 13-4 run, and led the Chargers, 35-20 after 20 minutes.
 
Things did not improve for the Chargers early in the second half, as Messiah outscored Lancaster Bible, 18-8 over the first 9:30 of the frame, and opened up a 25-point lead. Messiah maintained that lead the rest of the way, and defeated the Chargers for the first time in three tries.
 
By the Numbers: Lancaster Bible shot just 29.8 percent (17-of-57) from the floor, including 13.3 percent (2-of-15) from 3-point range…Messiah shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field, and 44 percent (11-of-25) from beyond the arc…Messiah held a 39-34 edge in rebounds…William Afoakwah led the Chargers with nine points and five rebounds, while Jordan Shewbridge and Murry each added eight points…Kobe Devine added six points, and Luke Beers had four points and six rebounds…A.J. Homes and Beachy had four points, while Jackson Whitt had three points.
 
News & Notes: Lancaster Bible is now 3-10 all-time against Messiah…The Chargers defeated the Falcons, 81-72 last season in Lancaster, Pa…Lancaster Bible had won two straight games over Messiah prior to Saturday night's loss…Messiah last defeated the Chargers on Dec. 16, 2016 in Lancaster, 70-64…Two nights after shooting a season-best 57.7 percent from the field, Lancaster Bible shot just 29.8 percent…The Chargers shot over 70 percent from the free throw line for the sixth time in nine games this season with a 72.2 percent mark on Saturday night.
 
Up Next: Lancaster Bible returns to the floor on Tuesday evening, as the Chargers take on Lancaster County foe Elizabethtown at 5 p.m. in Elizabethtown, Pa.