Boxscore

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Senior guard Heiden Ratner scored a game-high 21 points to lead 10 different Lakers in scoring as the Mercyhurst College men's basketball team downed host Lock Haven 85-48 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division opener.

Sophomore forward Luis Leao and senior guard Shelton Jackson each chipped in 14 to round out the Lakers in double-figures while redshirt freshman Keith Ellington tallied a career-high eight markers and true freshman Matt Durikso notched a career-high four points in the effort.

The Lakers (10-3, 1-0 PSAC West) went wire-to-wire and were never really challenged by the Bald Eagles (1-11, 0-1 PSAC West) as Mercyhurst built a double-digit lead just five minutes into the contest and would go on to lead by as many as 38 points.

On a night when most the state of Pennsylvania experienced snow and a deep chill, the Lakers were heating up Thomas Fieldhouse to win their first divisional opener in three tries. The Lakers shot over 50 percent from the field for the fourth consecutive game, knocking down 28-of-51 field goals, including 7-of-15 from beyond the arc. Three Lakers were perfect in field goal attempts, including Durisko, junior guard Jamal Turner and senior forward Olivier Dupiton.

Meanwhile, the Bald Eagles struggled offensively as they connected on just 33 percent of their shots (15-of-45) for the night, including a dismal 30 percent in the second half. Armandi Marshall led 11 different scoring Lock Haven scorers with nine points.

The Lakers led by six at halftime, 34-28, but exploded offensively in the final stanza. They outscored the hosts 50-21 in the second half and wasted little time extending the lead back to double-digits as they took an 11-point lead just over two minutes into the half.

Next up for Mercyhurst is a home contest against California (Pa.) on Saturday, Jan. 15. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. The Lakers swept the Vulcans a year ago after splitting the series in 2008-09.