HARRISONBURG, Va. - When you play your first four games on the road, the home opener is pretty sweet. When you're able to battle back from a second half deficit, force overtime, and dominate the OT period...it's that much sweeter. 

That's exactly what the Royals did on Wednesday. EMU, down as many as 14 in the game and nine in the second half, tied the game with 1:44 left and outscored Messiah 15-5 in the extra frame, en route to a 86-76 win. 

Records: EMU 3-2, 0-0 ODAC | Messiah 0-5, 0-0 MAC Commonwealth

Highlights

First Half
The teams traded points to start the game, with EMU taking a three point lead after five straight points from Aaron Brooks. After a jumper from Isaiah Carr gave EMU a four-point advantage at the 15:10 mark, Messiah went on a 21-4 run over the next seven minutes, to pull ahead 29-16. After an Aviwe Mahlong layup, the Falcons hit a three, giving them a 14 point lead, their largest of the game. MU continued to hold a lead, fluctuating between seven and nine points, for the next three minutes. But with the half winding down, the Royals went on a run, hitting back-to-back threes from CJ Harrist and Jameel Davis, to go into the break trailing by just three, 38-35. 

Second Half
The teams seemed to trade body blows throughout the second half, with neither able to land the final blow. After Messiah got their lead back to seven, Harrist hit another three to pull back within four. The teams traded threes once again and a Falcon three at the 10:34 mark gave them an eight point advantage. The Royals kept the Falcons in their sights, waiting to make their move, which they started with just under eight minutes. Five points from Mahlong, a jumper from Zach Bailey and a three from Carr pushed EMU to a 10-3 run and cut the Messiah lead to two with 5:05 left. Mahlong tied things at 64, but Messiah answered with three straight. After match baskets and Messiah holding a 69-66 lead, EMU finished the game on a 5-2 lead, with a layup from Brooks and big three from Mahlong. It looked like Mahlong might win it in regulation, after taking a pass from Payton Lewis and driving to the basket in the final seconds. But his layup was blocked, giving the home crowd an extra five minutes of free basketball. 

Overtime
Messiah scored the first points of overtime on a jumper, then it was all Royals. Trailing by two, Brooks scored or assisted on the next seven points to put EMU ahead 78-73. An and-one from Lewis and five EMU free throws rounded out the scoring down the stretch as EMU secured the W. 

Statistical Leaders
Mahlong: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Brooks: 14 points, 6 assists
Lewis, Davis, Bailey: 34 points combined

What's Next
The Royals were just making a pit stop at home, as they'll hit the road this weekend, albeit close to home. They'll head to Staunton on Saturday for a matchup against Mary Baldwin. Tipoff against the Fighting Squirrels is set for 2 pm. 

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