GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Gallaudet University men's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season Friday evening with a 100-73 non-conference loss to Messiah University on Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena.
The Bison (0-1) were led by junior guard
Jory Valencia (Riverside, Calif.), who scored a team-high 17 points, grabbed four steals and dished out four assists. Valencia made 9 of 12 free-throw attempts in 32 minutes of action.
Junior forward
Alex Ortman (Norway, Mich.) added 10 points off the bench, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance at the free-throw line. Sophomore forward
Keanu Ray Boren (Frederick, Md.) and junior forward
Wyatt Carlson (Hubertus, Wis.) chipped in nine points apiece. Boren added six rebounds and one blocked shot.
First-year forward
Franco Domine (Plantation, Fla.) made both of his field-goal attempts and finished with five points, a team-high seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in his collegiate debut.
Messiah (1-0) jumped out to an early lead and took a 48-29 advantage into halftime. The Falcons shot 52.8 percent from the field (38 of 72) and connected on 15 3-pointers. Gallaudet improved offensively in the second half, scoring 44 points, as the buff and blue showed a 15-point improvement from the opening 20 minutes.
Freshman guard Alijah Cooper paced the Falcons with 17 points, seven rebounds and a game-high 11 assists. Senior forward Ben Wert added 14 points, including four three-pointers, while freshman forward Cory Hogan and junior guard Avery Kopcha scored 11 points apiece.
UP NEXT
Gallaudet returns home to host Bridgewater (Va.) College on Monday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. in the Field House. The contest marks the Bison's 2026-27 home opener.
