PAINESVILLE, Ohio- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team lost, 67-51, at Lake Erie College Sunday night. The loss is the first of the season for the Lakers.
 
Hurst opened up a 21-11 lead in the first half before LEC stormed back. Matt Lee scored the first points of the contest and then Andrew Rickard hit a three-pointer. Up 12-9, freshman Christian Heine sparked the Lakers with a layup and a triple. Lee converted two free throws to put the visitors ahead 21-11 with 11:49 remaining.
 
Jonathan Ouegnin had a lay-in and a free throw to keep the Lakers up 28-19 before the Storm responded. Brandon Smith capped a 10-0 spurt with a layup for a 29-28 advantage with 2:31 to go. Rickard answered with a trey before Smith made three free throws and then Jamil Dudley hit a layup to put Lake Erie up 34-31 at halftime.
 
The second half started slowly with the only points of the first three-plus minutes being Eric Worthey's free throw and then three-pointer to give LEC a 40-33 edge. Lee hit a triple, but Tom Parked came back with a three of his own to put the home team back up seven.
 
Layups by Heine and Ouegnin cut the deficit to 44-40 midway through the frame. Matt Grendel connected on a trey and then made two free throws, followed by a Smith lay-in to give the Storm a 51-40 lead with 10:16 to play. A Bill Weaver dunk and two Rickard free throws put the Lakers down 57-49, but Hurst could get no closer the rest of the way.
 
Mercyhurst shot 18-46 (39 percent) from the field, while LEC hit 23-47 (49 percent) attempts. The Storm converted 9-17 three-pointers and outrebounded the Lakers, 37-22.
 
Lee led with 14 points and hit 5-13 shots, including two treys. Weaver added 10 points and Heine had nine. Rickard and Ouegnin each scored eight points in the loss. Smith led the Storm with 14 and Dudley had 13 points.
 
Mercyhurst returns to action next weekend, hosting Kutztown in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) contest at 3 p.m.
 
For a box score of the Mercyhurst-Lake Erie game, please click here.