GRANTHAM, Pa. - Lebanon Valley erased a 12-point second-half deficit to come back and beat Messiah, 83-80, in a thriller to open Commonwealth Conference play.

The Dutchmen (4-2, 1-0 CC) trailed by six with 4:11 left, but three-pointers by Andy Orr and Travis Conrad, and Orr's go-ahead free throws with 14.2 seconds left, gave LVC a lead in the closing seconds.

Kevin Agnew scored a game-high 24 points with five assists, and Orr dropped in 21 (including 3-for-3 shooting beyond the arc) to go with nine rebounds and four steals. Conrad had 16 points including two clutch shots down the stretch, and Zach Mrozek had 13 despite playing in foul trouble most of the game. The Dutchmen shot a blistering 61.3 percent in the second half and 52.6 percent for the game, including a 17-for-21 night at the line.

David Fernandez scored 21 to lead the Falcons (4-1, 0-1 CC), who lost for the first time this season. All five Falcon starters scored in double digits, including Geoff Boyle's 16. 

Messiah led most of the first half and were up 31-21 at the break, then led by as much as 12 several times early in the second half. The Dutchmen worked on reeling them in, and an 8-0 run mid-half keyed by an Orr three and layup, and an Agnew three-pointer gave LVC its first lead since the opening seconds at 56-55 with 9:59 to go. Messiah immediately answered with a 9-0 run to re-take an eight-point lead, but LVC again chipped away and a Will Boccanfuso jumper made it 68-63 with 5:16 to go.

After Agnew and Fernandez traded free throws before Orr sank a put-back layup to cut Messiah's lead to four. With 2:08 left, Agnew hit a layup, and Orr came back off the rebound to swish a three and give LVC the lead, 76-75, with 1:30 remaining. Boyle made two free throws at the other end, but Conrad sank another bomb to go up 79-77 before Fernandez answered in kind to see-saw the game back towards Messiah. With 14 seconds left, Orr went to the link and sank both tries to go ahead 81-80, and Fernandez traveled off the inbounds. Agnew was fouled and hit both, and LVC then intentionally fouled Fernandez, who missed both to try and get a game-tying three; Orr ended up with the rebound to end the game.

Lebanon Valley returns home Wednesday to host Hood at 8 p.m.