Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - Mercyhurst sank 10-of-14 threes, including 5-of-6 by Richard Field, but Hillsdale got 45 bench points to take an 81-65 final at the MAC from Mercyhurst on Senior Day.

Darren Angell, Mitch Brennan, Shelby Chaney, Richard Field and Avi Fogel were honored pregame before their final home regular season contest.

Field's second three of the game gave Mercyhurst an early 10-3 lead, but Hillsdale fought back to tie it at 11-11 after a jumper by Drew Powell. The Chargers eventually claimed the lead and free throws by Chaney cut it to 26-24 with 5:46 left in the half. Hillsdale then went on a 14-6 run to close the half and led 40-30 at the break.

In the second half, Hillsdale built its lead to 15, 51-36, before the Lakers caught fire and went on an 18-6 run that left Mercyhurst trailing by just three, 57-54, with 9:42 to play. Mercyhurst was 6-of-6 during the stretch with five threes.

The Chargers, however, ran off 15 straight points to put the game away.

Field and Hillsdale's Tony Gugino tied for the game-high with 19 each. Field shot 6-of-9 from the floor and grabbed six boards.

Chaney added 18 points and seven rebounds, along with two blocks. Terry Smith came off the bench for 15 on 6-of-9 shooting and went 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.

The Lakers shot 62 percent in the second half to finish the game at 49 percent.

Gugino turned in a double-double for the Chargers with 10 boards along with his 19 points off the pine. Powell scored a dozen and handed out nine assists. Tim Homan and Travis Worst had 11 apiece off the bench.

Hillsdale shot 52 percent in the game.

Mercyhurst holds a one game lead over Ashland and Wayne State for second place in the GLIAC South.

The Lakers hit the road next week for games at Findlay on February 15 and at Ashland on February 17.