Dec. 12, 2007

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - After scoring 65 points or fewer in seven-straight games, the Mercyhurst men's basketball team lit up Urbana for a season-best total of 83 Wednesday evening, snapping a two-game skid and evening its season record at 5-5 with an 83-67 victory.

Five Lakers tallied double figure scoring for the first time since the season opener against Roberts Wesleyan on Nov. 15. As a team, the Lakers shot an impressive 53.7 percent from the field, including 60.7 percent in the first half. Mercyhurst also committed just eight turnovers while forcing the 1-9 Blue Knights into 18.

Leading the Lakers was senior Terry Smith, who finished with at least 18 points for the eighth time in 10 games. His 18 matched Urbana's Julian Bernard for a game high.

It was Smith, however, that got his team rolling early. He scored 10 of the team's first 12 points, and it was his layup with 13:02 remaining in the first half that gave Mercyhurst the lead for good at 12-11.

Urbana remained within six until Pat McLain, who totaled a career-high 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting, hit for two, sparking a short run to close the half and helping the Lakers open a 40-31 lead.

The Blue Knights knocked down 13-of-22 shots in the first period, but could not keep pace in the second. Mercyhurst's smallest lead the rest of the way was eight points, and the Lakers put an exclamation point on the performance by recording three dunks--including a Ryann Bradford two-hand follow--in the final frame.

Senior T.J. Mathis and junior Brian McTear each scored nine points in the second to finish with 13. McTear also handed out seven assists without committing a turnover.

Junior Milos Bogetic also added 12 points, eight of which came in the second half. He knocked down 6-of-8 shots from the field and grabbed five rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.

Mercyhurst will look to string together back-to-back wins for the second time this season on Sunday, Dec. 16 when it hosts Salem International at 6 p.m. to open play at the Mercyhurst Classic. Also playing on Sunday is Ohio Valley and Saint Michael's.