GRANTHAM, P.A. — The St. Joseph's University, New York (Brooklyn) men's basketball team picked up their first win of the 2025-26 campaign in a 103-94 overtime thriller against Messiah University on Friday afternoon in the first semifinal of the Messiah Tip-Off Tournament. 

The Bears jumped out to an early lead in the first half, going up by seven less than four minutes into the game thanks to a layup by Jorden Bennett (Westhampton, N.Y.). After Messiah closed the gap to two points, the Bears would answer with a 13-0 run to go up 22-7 with 10:04 remaining in the half. The Falcons would cut the lead to four with 4:25 remaining in the half but the Bears extended their lead and go into the half up 46-38. 

The hosts cut the SJBK lead to three with 16:46 to go in the second half but the Bears would once again counter with a 10-2 run, capped off by a Justin Nazon (Staten Island, N.Y.) tip-in with 12:43 to play. The Bears clung to a two-possession lead until a Messiah tip-in with 3:56 to go further trimmed the advantage to three. The Falcons took the lead with 1:45 left but the Bears answered with a three from Colin Mills (White Plains, N.Y.) putting St. Joe's in front by two. The sides exchanged buckets down the stretch before Justin Munson (Middle Village, N.Y.) dained a pair of free throws to swing the advantage to the Bears but a layup with seven second left in regulation forced overtime.

Austin Wrynn (Port Washington, N.Y.) began the Bears' scoring in overtime on an and-one layup and hitting the ensuing free throw putting the Bears ahead by three. The Falcons would tie the game at 92 with 3:09 remaining and eventually take a one point lead, but a jumper from Timothy Richardson (Ozone Park, N.Y.) with 1:48 left would put the Bears ahead; holding on the rest of the way to win the game 103-94. 

Mills had 24 points while shooting 3-for-4 from three point range and forcing four steals. Bennett had a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds while Jacob Idowu (Wiesbaden, Germany) also had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Wrynn flirted with a double-double of his own behind nine points and as many rebounds with seven of his boards coming on the offensive glass. Munson added 16 points and eight rebounds while Richardson rounded out the Bears in double figures with a 10-point game.

The Bears will take on Washington and Lee University, who defeated Sailsbury University 88-63, in Saturday's tournament final. Tipoff is slated for 4 pm.