Box Score
Shepherdstown, W. Va. – Senior
Brian McTear scored 26 of his career-high 31 points in the second half as the Mercyhurst men's basketball team overcame an eight-point halftime deficit and prevailed 79-76 over Shepherd Saturday.
The Lakers improve to 3-0 on the season with the win. Shepherd, a WVIAC school, is now 0-4.
Mercyhurst built an early 13-3 lead, as Elliott Engelmann hit consecutive three-pointers to give the Lakers a 10-point edge just over five minutes into the game. Shepherd went on an 8-0 run over the next three minutes, pulling within two points at 13-11 with 11:12 remaining in the first half. Mercyhurst then built its lead to 18-13 on an Engelmann free throw with 8:19 left in the opening half.
Shepherd then went on an extended 9-0 run, capped by a Tyrone Roach three-pointer that gave the Rams a 22-18 lead with five and a half minutes to go in the first half. The 9-0 Shepherd run was part of a 23-10 skein the Rams used to take a 36-28 halftime lead.
The Rams shot 50 percent from the field and 4-for-8 from behind the arc in the first half, while the Lakers shot just 34.6 percent from the field in the opening frame.
Mercyhurst chipped away at Shepherd's lead early in the second half, as McTear scored the Lakers' first nine points during the opening three and a half minutes of the second half. McTear and Engelmann combined to score Mercyhurst's first 26 points of the second half. The Lakers pulled to within one point at 45-44 when Engelmann drained a three-pointer with just under 15 minutes left to play. After a Shepherd basket, McTear hit a layup to trim the margin to one at 47-46 and then he narrowed the deficit to one point at 55-54 with 7:54 remaining in the game.
Jeremiah Wise hit a three-point shot with 6:47 to go in the game, giving Mercyhurst a 57-55 lead, its first since early in the first half. The Lakers built their lead to as many as 10 points at 68-58 and then 70-60 with 3:18 remaining in the game.
The Rams fought back in the closing three minutes, using an 11-3 run to narrow their deficit to two points at 73-71 with 40 seconds remaining.
Mercyhurst held Shepherd off during the closing seconds, pulling out the 79-76 non-conference victory.
The Lakers shot 66.7 percent from the field (18-27) and from three-point range (6-9) in the second half, finishing 10-for-20 from behind the arc for the game and slightly over 50 percent from the field.
McTear led all scorers with his career-high 31 points, including 26 in the second half. His previous career high was 25 points against Hillsdale Feb. 2, 2008. McTear's 31 points were the most by a Mercyhurst men's basketball player since Terry Smith scored 37 at Ashland Feb. 16, 2008. McTear also led the team with five assists and three steals.
Engelmann scored 16 points and led the Lakers with six rebounds. He shot 4-for-5 on three-point attempts.
Justin Jarman led the Rams with 23 points, while Liki Turner scored 18 points and Tariq Uqdah added 11 markers.
Mercyhurst is off to its best start at 3-0 since the 2005-06 season, when the Lakers opened the campaign at 5-0 on their way to a 19-9 record.
The Lakers will play their home opener Tuesday at 2 p.m. against Salem International.
