CARLISLE, Pa. – The Dickinson men's basketball team held off a late rally by the visiting Messiah University to earn a slim 55-54 non-conference win on Wednesday night at the Kline Center. Ryan Robinson led the way for the Devils with 16 points.

Messiah took the lead just 35-seconds in on three from Arkese Claiborne before the Devils got on the board on their next trip down the floor on a layup by Drew Haueisen. The game would stay that way for the next four minutes until Robinson got his first bucket on the night. The two sides exchanged the next four points allowing DC to hold onto a slim 8-7 advantage. Justin Glover, Haueisen, and Robinson then went on a 6-0 charge to open up a 14-7 lead with 11:02 to go. That sparked the Falcons with Dylan Cuperus, Caleb Light, and Claiborne netting eight straight to jump ahead 15-14. Robinson knocked down two free throws to make it 16-15, but then triples by Evan Parker, and Claiborne brought Messiah in front 21-16 with five minutes to go in the half. Chris Bates, Brandon Wiercinski, Jack Tierney, and Robinson went on a 10-0 charge to grab a 26-21 advantage. Will Young IV would hit a layup in the final minute to make it 26-23 at half.

Aaron Bailey and Tierney knocked down shots from long range in the opening three minutes of the second half to extend the margin to five, 32-27. Two buckets from Claiborne sandwiched a layup by Robinson to make it 34-31 with five minutes gone. Three balls from Andrew Gostovich and Glover capped a 7-0 DC run to push the lead to double-digits 41-31 at the 7:58 mark. Neither side would score over the next two minutes until Bryce Coletti and Light scored for Messiah to get within 41-35 with 9:19 remaining. Triples from Anthony Goeb and Gostovich continued to keep the Falcons at bay 48-40 two minutes later. Young IV went on a personal 5-0 to close within 48-45 with five minutes to go. Luke Spellman, Tierney, and Robinson put together a 9-2 charge to stretch the lead to 54-47. Claiborne and Young IV scored seven straight to tie the score at 54-54 with a minute to go. Robinson would knock down a free throw to make it 55-54 with 46-seconds remaining to account for the final point as a last-second layup attempt from Claiborne fell short to end the game.   

Red Devil Leaders

Points – Robinson (16), Tierney (10)

Rebounds – Robinson (11), Tierney (8)

Steals – Bailey and Spellman (1)

Falcon Leaders

Points – Claiborne (23), Young IV (14)

Rebounds – Young IV (11), Glogowski (7), Claiborne (6)

Steals – Claiborne and Light (2)

Next on the Court

The Devils continue non-conference play on Saturday when they host another local rival in Lebanon Valley College at the Kline Center. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.