SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Mercyhurst used a 12-0 run midway through the second half to help erase a 14-point halftime deficit but host Slippery Rock would counter with 14-10 run of its own in the final minutes to take a 72-69 decision in front of 485 fans at Morrow Fieldhouse. 

The Rock's win completes the season sweep of the Lakers and moves SRU to 14-7 overall, 5-3 in the PSAC West, while Mercyhurst falls to 15-6 overall, 3-5 in league play. 

The Lakers claimed their first lead of the second half with 6:37 remaining on a layup by Jordan Armstrong and traded baskets with SRU in the next two possessions before The Rock stretched its lead to 64-61 on a layup by Kyle Camper with just over three minutes remaining. 

Nnamdi Nnadili scored on the Lakers next possession to cut The Rock's lead to one, but Mercyhurst would not connect for another field goal until Nnadili's layup with five seconds remaining and Camper would contribute five points in the final minute, including a 3-for-4 performance from the charity stripe, to stifle the Lakers comeback attempt.

Mercyhurst began the game with a 4-0 lead and held The Rock scoreless for the first 2:25 as the Lakers led for the game's first six minutes, but SRU's hot-shooting hand proved too much as the hosts took a 45-31 lead at the half behind a 57.7 field-goal percentage (15-of-26). The Lakers hit 44 percent from the field in the first, including just 1-for-7 from 3-point land and finished the game at 37.9 percent (25-of-66). SRU finished at 47.3 percent (26-of-55). 

Brian McTear paced the Lakers with 18 points, including two key 3-pointers during the Lakers 12-0 run, while Armstrong added 18 markers on 7-of-12 shooting and Nnadili finished with 17 tallies and eight assists. 

SRU's Denell Stephens posted a game-high 30-points and Maron Brown and Camper added 13 and 12 points, respectively to lead The Rock. 

The Lakers are in action next on Wednesday when the Fighting Scots of Edinboro travel to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.