WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University men's basketball team came from behind in the second half to defeat West Chester, 70-67, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Championship Sunday afternoon at the Hollinger Fieldhouse on the campus of West Chester University. With the win, the two-seeded Lakers (21-8), out of the PSAC Western Division, captured their first ever PSAC Tournament Championship and will receive their second National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament bid in consecutive seasons.

After trailing for the majority of the first half and taking a seven point deficit into halftime, Mercyhurst outscored the Golden Rams by ten in the final 20 minutes of play. The Lakers trailed by as many as 11 in the opening half.

With 10:53 to play in the second, senior guard Jean Onana tied the game for Lakers at 50 apiece, with one of his three 3-point field goals of the afternoon. Onana's three sparked a 7-0 run, which gave the Lakers their first lead since leading 9-7 with 16:28 to play in the first half.

The Lakers would hold a four point advantage, 56-52, with 6:23 remaining, before West Chester went on a 7-0 run to reclaim a 59-56 lead.

After making a pair of free throws, West Chester's Malik Jackson put the Golden Rams ahead by four points with 4:03 to play.

Mercyhurst would go on answer West Chester's run with an 8-0 spurt of their own, to regain the lead, 68-64, with 1:18 showing on the clock. Jackson followed the Lakers run with a three, to pull back within one, 68-67.

The Lakers defense held West Chester down the stretch in the final 37 seconds and made 2-of-4 free throws, to cap off the three point victory.

Onana led the team in scoring with 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and making 3-of-4 3-pointers. Seniors Kayode Ajenifuja (14), Damon Jones (13), and Gerrae Williams (11) also finished in double figures scoring.

Jackson finished with a game-high 27 points.

The Lakers finished 24-of-49 (49.0%) from the floor, and outrebounded West Chester, 34-29, en route to their 21st win of the season.

Ajenifuja was named PSAC Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his performance over the past three games. The Beltville Maryland, native averaged 18 points, 1.7 assists, and 6.3 rebounds. He finished 5-of-8 from the floor Sunday with six rebounds.

Mercyhurst will await their destiny until tonight at 10:30 p.m., when the NCAA Tournament Selection Show will begin. The NCAA First Round will begin Saturday, March 12. Check the @HurstAthletics twitter handle tonight to find out who the Lakers will play.

To watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show live, CLICK HERE.