Jan. 12, 2008

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Eighth-ranked Findlay responded from Thursday's loss at Gannon impressively, dispatching the Mercyhurst men's basketball team 71-42 inside the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Lakers (8-8, 2-4 GLIAC) struggled to score against Findlay's (13-3, 4-3 GLIAC) air-tight defense, shooting just 34 percent from the field and scoring a season-low 42 points. It was the fewest points scored by a Laker team since scoring just 40 against Findlay on March 2, 2007.

Morgan Lewis led Findlay with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. He scored 14 in the first half including eight on four dunks. Josh Bostic chipped in 18 and hit 9-of-10 from the free throw line. As a team, the Oilers shot 57.5 percent from the field.

The Lakers kept the game close early and a 7-0 run brought them to within 19-18 with eight minutes left in the first frame. Findlay, however, outscored Mercyhurst 15-2 the rest of the half to open a 34-20 advantage.

A 3-pointer by T.J. Mathis cut the lead to 11 on the first possession of the second half, but Findlay slowly pulled away by taking advantage at the free throw line. The Oilers cashed in 15-of-18 in the second half.

Mercyhurst, which had made 13 3-pointers in its last outing, managed to hit 4-of-26 attempts on Saturday. It was the first time all season that the Lakers failed to make at least five 3-pointers.

Sophomore Ryann Bradford continued his strong play, giving the Lakers a career-high 37 minutes and recording eight points and seven rebounds. Entering the week, Bradford was averaging 1.8 points and 1.9 rebounds through 13 games, but against Gannon and Findlay, he averaged 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Saturday's game closed a seven-game home stand in which the Lakers went 4-3. The team now hits the road for four-straight conference games. On Thursday, Mercyhurst faces No. 2-ranked and unbeaten Grand Valley State. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.