Feb. 23, 2006

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Terry Smith scored 25 points, but Gannon (12-15, 6-11 GLIAC South) attempted 30 more free throws than Mercyhurst (19-8, 9-8 GLIAC South) and came back for a 57-54 win at the Hammermill Center.

The Lakers jumped out to a 28-15 halftime lead by holding the Golden Knights to just 5-of-24 shooting (21 percent), including 0-of-11 from the three point line in the opening 20 minutes. Mercyhurst took a game-opening 13-3 lead, allowing the Golden Knights to just one field goal in the first 7:15.

A Smith layup gave the Lakers a 30-17 lead with 18:36 left. A 27-13 run over the next 11:31 by Gannon knotted the score at 44-44 after a pair of Pat Washington free throws.

Mercyhurst, leading 52-50, was dealt a big blow when Jeff Daisley and Avi Fogel were called for their fifth fouls on consecutive possessions. Terrell Kittelberger tied the score at 52-52 with a pair of free throws. Smith reclaimed the lead for Mercyhurt with a jumper at 2:02, but Darmel Whitfield answered with a three-pointer 14 seconds later and Gannon never trailed again.

Smith hit 8-of-13 field goals and went 5-of-8 from long distance. Fogel, second in the GLIAC in scoring, was held to just four points before fouling out. Richard Field scored all 11 of his points in the first half. Daisley had six rebounds and three blocks.

Aurimas Truskauskas led the Golden Knights with 15 points and 14 rebounds. He hit 7-of-13 field goals, but had a rough night at the foul line, hitting just 1-of-11. Whitfield scored 12 points, all on threes. He went 4-of-8 from long range, while the rest of Gannon was 0-of-10. Demondi Johnson went 9-of-10 at the line and finished with 11 points. Shelby Chaney, Gannon's second leading scorer and rebounder, scored just one point and grabbed only three rebounds.

Gannon outrebounded the Lakers 44-23 in the contest and held a 16-2 advantage in second chance points.

Mercyhurst was 6-of-7 from the foul line (86 percent) and 8-of-21 from three-point range (38 percent). Gannon attempted 37 free throws, converting 21 (57 percent).

In addition to Daisley and Fogel, Corey Tubo also fouled out for the Lakers, already playing without Andy Kubinski due to injury.

The loss was Mercyhurst's third in a row. The Lakers will look to rebound when they head to Ashland for a GLIAC Quarterfinal on February 28. Tip off is set for 7:30 PM.