Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst put together a late rally, outscoring homestanding Gannon 16-7 in the final 10 minutes, but the 16-point halftime deficit proved too much for the Lakers to overcome as Gannon held on for a 68-55 win Saturday in a packed Hammermill Center Saturday evening.

While the Lakers (15-12, 9-8 GLIAC) shot 61 percent from the field in the second half and tried to whittle away Gannon's (24-3, 15-2) early lead, they could pull no closer than 12 points as the Golden Knights answered each run with one of their own.

The Golden Knights, who clinched the GLIAC South Division with the win, received nine points from Pierre Howard and nine crucial points off the bench in the second half that kept them in front.

Mercyhurst, already guaranteed the No. 3-seed from the South Division in the GLIAC Tournament, was forced to make a furious rally after digging a big hole in the first period. The Lakers hit just 3-of-12 3-point shots, made nine field goals and committed 10 turnovers in the first half, while Gannon drilled 13-of-23 from the field and 12-of-14 at the stripe to post a 41-25 advantage at the half.

Gannon's lead continued to grow with a 6-2 run to start the second period and it pushed the lead to as many as 22 before Mercyhurst's Terry Smith caught fire at the 10 minute mark and hit a pair of jumpers and a 3-pointer on three-straight possessions.

Mercyhurst's run continued with buckets from Ryann Bradford and two from T.J. Mathis, and Smith hit one-of-two free throws to bring his squad to 65-53 with 2:38 left.

On Gannon's next offensive trip, the Lakers forced an errant shot but a loose ball on the rebound went to the Golden Knights, and Joe Lindsey ended the six-minute drought and any hope for a Laker comeback on a jumper with one second left on the shot clock.

After scoring three points in the first, Smith rallied the Lakers with 12 second-half points, and he hit four of his final nine shots. Smith also added a game-high four steals to his GLIAC-leading total of 68.

Brian McTear chipped in 13 points and three assists.

Gannon's victory completed a season sweep over the Lakers, returning the favor for Mercyhurst's season sweep in 2006-07.

The Lakers cap the regular season with 15 wins, marking the third-straight season and the fourth in the last five--all under Gary Manchel--that the program has totaled at least 15 wins. It is also the first time in the program's 13-year GLIAC membership that the Lakers have posted three-straight seasons of at least nine conference victories.

Mercyhurst, with its third GLIAC Tournament appearance in a row, will travel to No. 6 Findlay on March 1.