Feb. 11, 2006

Stats

Hillsdale, Mich. - Jeff Daisley scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half as the Lakers won in Hillsdale for the first time in eight years, 73-56.

The Lakers (19-5, 9-5 GLIAC) trailed for much of the early going, until a Daisley layup with 8:07 to play in the first half gave Mercyhurst a 16-15 advantage. The bucket was part of a 20-4 run that started with Hillsdale (10-13, 6-8 GLIAC) leading 15-8. When the run was over, the 'Hurst had its biggest lead of the opening half at 28-19. Avi Fogel started the run with a basket and assisted on four other scores during the spurt. Terry Smith scored all seven of his first half points in the run. Mercyhurst also held Hillsdale without a field goal for over nine minutes during the half and entered the break up 33-27.

Hillsdale kept the game close by shooting 13-of-15 from the foul line in the first half.

Mercyhurst came out firing in the second, hitting 15-of-24 field goals (63 percent) in the final 20 minutes, using a 24-4 run midway through the half to seal the win. The run, fueled by six of Fogel's eight second half points, gave the Lakers a 66-40 lead with 5:10 to play.

The Mercyhurst defense stymied Hillsdale into just 15-of-48 shooting (31 percent) and 2-of-11 from long range. The Lakers held Hillsdale without a field goal for 10:15 in the second half.

Five Lakers reached double figures in the win. Daisley hit 7-of-12 field goals, grabbed six rebounds with three blocks and three steals. Smith matched his point total, connecting on 7-of-11 field goals with a pair of threes. Stu Anglum had career highs with 11 points - on 4-of-8 shooting with three threes - and seven boards. RichardField also scored 11 points and added four assists.

Fogel, who scored 29 in Mercyhurst's last game, had just 10 against Hillsdale, but tied Anglum and the Chargers' Drew Powell with seven rebounds and also dished out a game-high seven assists.

The Lakers shot 57 percent for the game (29-of-51) and hit 6-of-13 threes (46 percent).

For Hillsdale, Cory Coe led all players with 25 points. He was sent to the line 15 times, converting 14. Tony Gugino was the only other Charger in double digits with 10.

The Lakers pounded the Chargers on the boards, 38-22.

Mercyhurst's last win at Hillsdale came in a 91-89 overtime victory on January 31, 1998.

The win was Mercyhurst's fifth-straight and eighth in its last nine games. It gave the Lakers 19 wins on the season, the most since the 1992-93 squad won 20 games.

The Lakers will complete the home portion of the regular season schedule with tilts against Findlay on Thursday, February 16 and Ashland on February 18.