Nov. 27, 2005

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst won its fifth straight game to start the season, its best beginning in eight years, as it defeated Ohio Valley University 90-58 in a rare Sunday matinee game at the Athletic Center. The Fighting Scots, concluding a three-game trip to Erie, dropped to 2-4.

A road-weary Ohio Valley team kept pace with Mercyhurst for the first eight minutes when, tied at 14-14, the Lakers outscored OVU 36-4 the rest of the half for a commanding 50-18 lead at intermission. OVU was within ten (28-18) with 6:42 left, but the Lakers exploded to score the final 22 points of the opening stanza.Mercyhurst converted 53% of its 34 shots and 11 of 13 free throws in the first twenty minutes while holding the Fighting Scots to just 24% shooting (8 of 33). Ohio Valley missed its only free throw opportunity in the half. Junior transfer Avi Fogel led Mercyhurst with 16 points, nearly matching Ohio Valley's entire first half output. The tenacious Mercyhurst defense also forced 11 Ohio Valley turnovers.

Both teams scored 40 points in the second half. The Lakers, who got production from all 12 available players, led by as many as 47 points (78-31) before Ohio Valley closed the game on a 27-12 run. Mercyhurst shot 48% from the field and featured four players in double figures. Fogel led with 21 with plenty of help from sophomore guard Terry Smith (14), senior forward Andy Kubinski (10), and junior forward Mitch Brennan (10). Freshman Sean Michael led OVU with 15 and senior Chris Cobbina chipped in with ten. The Fighting Scots shot 33% from the floor.

Mercyhurst will rest until Thursday, December 1, when it opens GLIAC play against visiting Hillsdale at 8:00pm.