Dec. 20, 2005

Stats

Shepherdstown, W.Va. - Mercyhurst got 26 points from its bench and limited Shepherd University to just over a shot-a-minute in posting a 67-54 win in non-conference action Tuesday night. The Lakers improved to 9-2 on the season while the Rams dropped to 5-3. The nine wins already exceed last season's win total of eight.

Mercyhurst scored the first three points of the game on a three-point play by junior Richard Field, then watched the Rams collect the next 13 for a 10-point advantage. The Lakers regrouped, turned up the defense, and outscored the Rams 23-7 over the last 14 minutes of the half to grab a 26-20 lead at intermission. The game was deadlocked at 19 with 5:21 left when the Lakers went on a 7-1 run to close the half. 15 of Mercyhurst's 26 first half points game from its bench: Stu Anglum (7), Jeff Daisley (6), and Cory Carson (2). Although the Rams shot 50% from the floor in the half, they attempted only 18 shots. Both teams combined to shoot 0 of 16 from beyond the arc in the opening stanza. The Lakers forced 14 Shepherd turnovers while committing only four.

Mercyhurst led the entire second half and fought off the Rams who closed to within three on two separate occasions, the last at 36-33 with 12:50 left. But the Lakers responded with a 17-6 run over the next eight minutes to open a 53-39 advantage and were never seriously threatened again.

The Mercyhurst bench proved to be the difference, outscoring its counterparts 26-7. Daisley led the reserves with a season-high 14 points on 7 of 9 shooting. Starters Avi Fogel (17) and Terry Smith (10) were the other players in double digits, but suffered through a combined 7 of 27 night from the floor. Shepherd was led by Yves Molina and Darren Stackhouse, who divided 34 points evenly. Rams' leading scorer Chad Myers, averaging nearly 14 points-a-game and 47% from beyond the arc, was held to just 1 of 11 shooting (0 of 7 triples) and five points. Both teams were held in check from the floor as the Lakers cashed only 25 of 64 shots (39.1%) while the Rams convereted just 19 of 47 (40.4%). Shepherd outrebounded Mercyhurst 37-34, but the Lakers's defense caused 22 turnovers. Mercyhurst turned the ball over only ten times and generated eleven steals.

The Lakers improved to 2-0 lifetime against the Rams, having won 73-55 in Erie last season.

Mercyhurst, winners of four of its last five, will rest until December 29 and 30 when it will take part in the St. Michael's (Colchester, Vt.) Tournament. Mercyhurst will play Post University on the 29th and Concordia (N.Y.) on the 30th. Both games will begin at 5:00pm.