ERIE, Pa. – Inside a capacity Hammermill Center, city-rival and sixth-ranked Gannon (23-3, 11-2 PSAC West) posted a strong defensive effort to hand Mercyhurst (16-10, 4-9 PSAC West) a 73-44 loss and complete the season sweep of the Lakers.

Mercyhurst  played tough through the opening minutes in front of a raucous crowd, tying the game twice in the first five minutes as Jordan Armstrong opened the scoring on a layup before scoring eight of the Lakers first 13 points. 

However, Mercyhurst was unable to gain on any ground on the hot-shooting Golden Knights as Dave Wilson scored six straight points midway through the opening stanza to stretch homestanding Gannon's lead to double-digits and the Knights would not look back, taking a commanding 37-18 lead into halftime. 

Gannon shot nearly 50 percent from the field on 15-of-31 from the floor in the first half before finishing the game at 50 percent (30-of-60). The Golden Knights defensive intensity led to 22 points off 16 Mercyhurst turnovers while the Lakers were unable to find their rhythm offensively, connecting on just 16-of-52 from the floor. 

All eight Lakers got in on the scoring, led by eight points from Jordan Armstrong and seven tallies each from Anthony Terry andSrjdan Popovic. Iddo Cohen added three blocks while Brian McTear contributed three helpers. 

Gannon was led by four players in double-figures, including Kyle Goldcamp, who posted game-highs with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Mercyhurst is in action next at California in the regular-season finale. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. Senior McTear will play in his last contest as a Laker after wearing green and white for the last two seasons.