Boxscore

URBANA, Ohio – Urbana University outscored Mercyhurst College 52-33 in the second half to erase the Lakers 34-18 halftime lead and take a 70-67 decision in front of 568 at the Urbana University Grimes Center. 

The contest featured a chaotic final three minutes of play in which the two teams combined for 18 free-throw attempts and five lead changes, including three ties. 

With 2:58 remaining, Urbana (6-2) knotted the game for the first time on a free-throw by Charlton Conner after a series of fouls, including a technical on the Lakers Christian Cornelius. 

The Lakers (3-2) regained the lead eight seconds later on a free throw by Cornelius but it would be a short-lived lead as Urbana's jumper by T.R. Ellis with 2:19 gave the Blue Knights their first advantage of the game. 

In the Lakers next possession, Nnamdi Nnadili could not connect on a jumper but Shelton Jackson grabbed the offensive board and converted for two, giving Mercyhurst a 63-62 lead with 1:46 remaining.
Seven seconds later, a foul by Heiden Ratner sent Conner to the line again where he connected on both chances, giving the Blue Knights their second lead of the night. 

A back and forth battle would continue as Cornelius added a layup in the Lakers next possession before Ellis answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game with 1:11 remaining. 

Free throws dominated the final minutes of play, with Mercyhurst's Heiden Ratner draining two with 57 second left to pull the Lakers even once again. 

However, Ellis hit his second straight 3-point attempt for the game's final score with 42 seconds left. 

The Lakers finished the game with a slight advantage in field goal percentage, outshooting the Blue Knights 42.1 percent (24-of-57) to 38.7 percent (22-of-67), but had trouble rebounding. Mercyhurst grabbed only eight offensive rebounds on the night, in comparison to Urbana's 16 offensive boards, which aided the Blue Knights in a 16-4 advantage in second-chance points. 

The Lakers also had just one player in double-figures as Christian Cornelius deposited 15 tallies. For the Blue Knights, four starters recorded double-figures and were led by a game-high 21 points from Clint Nicholson. 

From behind the arc, the Lakers hit just 1-of-5 attempts in the second half as Urbana used a 6-for-11 performance in the final stanza to help the comeback rally. Mercyhurst finished the game shooting 3-for-12 from long-distance while Urbana went 7-for-23 in the contest. 

Next up for Mercyhurst is its second-straight road contest when the Lakers travel to Mansfield on Monday, December 7 for a PSAC crossover contest. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.