Jan. 26, 2008

Box Score

Detroit, Mich. - Trailing by three with six minutes remaining, the Mercyhurst men's basketball team went on an 18-7 run to close the game and come away with a 68-60 win at Wayne State Saturday afternoon.

Junior Brian McTear sparked the late Laker charge, scoring 10 of his team-high 20 points in the final six minutes. He has now scored 20 points in two of the last three games, and the Lakers, now 10-10 on the season have put together back-to-back wins for the first time since Dec. 17.

Mercyhurst started quickly, extending the advantage to as many as 18 with 10 minutes to go in the first half, but Wayne State slowly chipped Mercyhurst's lead to 35-28 at the break.

Despite a quick Warrior start to the second half, the Lakers managed to hold onto the lead until Wayne State's Wynn Sarden, who finished with a game-high 23 points and 10 boards, hit a jumper at the 9:14 mark to push Wayne State ahead 51-50. It was the Warriors' first lead since 3-2.

Wayne State scored again to increase the advantage, but McTear answered, scoring eight-straight points in a three minute span to give the Lakers a 58-53 edge. From there, the Lakers iced the game at the line, using free throws from McTear, senior Terry Smith and junior Milos Bogetic.

McTear, after hitting a game-winning free throw against Hillsdale Thursday evening, hit 7-of-9 from the field including 3-of-3 from 3-point range Saturday. Smith chipped in 16 points and four assists, and T.J. Mathis tallied 15 points and five rebounds.

The Lakers shot 52 percent from the field and hit 12-of-15 free throws.

Mercyhurst improves to 4-6 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and Wayne State drops to 9-9 overall and 3-7 in the conference.

Saturday's game ended a four-game conference road swing for the Lakers, and they now return to Erie for a four-game homestand beginning Thursday against Hillsdale at 8 p.m.