Dec. 5, 2007

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Late in the second half, the Mercyhurst men's basketball team rallied to take a 48-47 lead, but that lead would stand for only 12 seconds as Edinboro quickly pulled away and handed the homestanding Lakers a 69-59 loss in front of 1,089 fans in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center Thursday evening.

Edinboro's shot-altering defense and rebounding paved the way for its fourth win in six tries while the Lakers fell to 4-4 with the loss.

Fighting Scot senior Ryan McLemore provided 18 points, a career-high 19 rebounds and five blocks, but his presence in the middle altered many other Laker shots, which was a factor in Mercyhurst shooting a mere 33.9 percent from the field.

Despite the cold shooting and disadvantage on the glass--Edinboro out-rebounded the Lakers 45-35--Mercyhurst was in position to take control of the game midway through the second period.

After falling behind 32-28 at the break, the Lakers slowly chipped away at the Edinboro lead behind seven points from freshman Anthony Terry in three-minute stretch. A Terry Smith 3-pointer with 12:39 remaining brought Mercyhurst within 45-43 and one minute later, Terry converted a 3-point play to slash the lead to one point.

That, however, was when the drought began for both teams. The Lakers and Fighting Scots ratcheted up the defense and six possessions went by before senior Cory Tubo's tip-in put an end to the nearly four-minute scoreless stretch and gave the Lakers a 48-47 lead; their first lead since 15:39 in the first half.

Just 12 seconds later, Devon Knight scored on a layup to take back the lead, and beginning at the 5:01 mark, Edinboro caught fire, hitting six of its next eight shots from the field to extend the advantage to as many as nine before icing the game on free throws.

Mercyhurst's T.J. Mathis recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. He also tallied a team-high three assists. Senior Terry Smith hit five 3-pointers and totaled 18 points, giving him six games with at least 18 points this season.

Freshman Iddo Cohen battled inside and recorded five blocked shots and eight points--all career highs. Terry's 12 points was also a career high.

Mercyhurst hits the road for an away game at Lake Superior State on Saturday, Dec. 8. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m., and it will air live on the B2 Networks.