Feb. 16, 2008

Box Score

Ashland, Ohio - The Mercyhurst men's basketball team set a new school record Saturday by hitting 17 3-pointers and Terry Smith turned in a record-breaking performance with a career-high 37 points and nine threes in an 81-69 victory over Ashland.

Smith, who recorded his second-career 30-point game of his career, hit 9-of-17 from long range, tying Jason Ioppolo's mark set in 1997 for 3-pointers made in a game and also broke Ioppolo's record for 3-pointers attempted.

But Smith started slowly, scoring just eight points in the first half. In the second, however, he drilled 10-of-14 shots from the field and 7-of-11 from deep for 29 points, breaking the program record for points in a half set in 1983 at 27 by Mercyhurst's all-time leading scorer, John Green.

Smith's 37-point effort was the most by a Mercyhurst player since Jamie Houston scored 39 against Wisconsin-Parkside on Feb. 20, 1993. The single-game record of 44 by Rashe Reviere, was also set in the 1992-93 season.

The Lakers (15-11, 9-7 GLIAC) shot 17-of-36 from behind the arc, snapping the previous Mercyhurst single game record of 15 that was set Jan. 21, 2006 against Lake Superior State.

The 3-pointers started falling early for the Lakers, who have now won seven of their last eight. T.J. Mathis and Brian McTear combined to score 17 of the team's first 19 points and by the time Smith scored his first bucket at the 13:07 mark, the Lakers were on top 22-6 and had hit six threes.

Mercyhurst continued its hot shooting throughout the half, racing out to a 41-31 lead at the midway point thanks to 14 points from McTear and 12 from Mathis. McTear finished the first period 5-of-5 from the field and 4-of-4 from three.

Smith took over in the second, scoring 15 of Mercyhurst's first 18 points in just five minutes. A Ryann Bradford layup pulled the Lakers in front by 22 points. Ashland's Kale Richardson kept managed to pull Ashland within nine with 7:53 remaining, but Smith hit two threes and Mathis hit another to halt the Ashland run.

Smith's fourth 3-pointer of the evening set a new school record for 3-pointers in a season, as well. With 83 makes, he passed Kerry Baker's mark of 77 that was set in the 1992-93 campaign.

To go along with his historical scoring night, Smith recorded five steals, eight rebounds and four assists.

Mathis finished with 19 points and seven boards, and McTear scored 14 points and handed out four assists. Senior Cory Tubo pulled down seven rebounds, as well.

As a team, the Lakers shot 51.7 percent from the field and totaled 17 assists.

With the win, the Lakers clinched the third seed from the GLIAC South Division and will have to travel either Findlay or Gannon for the first round of the GLIAC Tournament.

Mercyhurst travels to crosstown rival Gannon Saturday, Feb. 23. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.