ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.—Four from the Elizabethtown men's basketball team contributed ten points or more in the 88-68 win over Messiah inside Thompson Gymnasium, Saturday afternoon.

Austin Finarelli led the team for the second game in a row with 22 points while going 3-6 in three-pointers. Rance Russo totaled 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. MJ Branker added 11 points from the bench and EJ Finney grabbed ten rebounds.

Five minutes into the first half, Elizabethtown led by just one following a Messiah layup. Over the next several minutes the two teams continued to remain close as the Blue Jays led, 18-16 after an Alon Gorham three-pointer. Two Etown layups kept the team leading the Falcons by three points. With six minutes remaining, Messiah sunk two 3-pointers to take a five-point lead. Reese Ziegler recorded the final basket of the half to give Etown the 40-37 lead heading into halftime. In the first half both teams made 16 field goals and four 3-pointers.

Through the first eight minutes of the second half following a Ben Stanton jumper the Blue Jays led by just two points. In the next couple of minutes Etown gained momentum recording three straight 3-pointers, extending their lead by 13-points. Branker added a layup and another three to put Etown up, 67-53 with nine minutes remaining. Messiah couldn't find their groove in the final minutes and wasn't able to recover from the large deficit. Etown defeated Messiah by 20-points at 88-68.

Elizabethtown remains home as they host their first Landmark game of the season, Wednesday, November 20 at 7 pm against Catholic.