ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team won, 62-61, over crosstown rival Gannon Wednesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Steven Coleman made two free throws with 20 seconds to play, giving the Lakers a key Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division victory.


 
The game was intense throughout, as hot starts by each team wore off and the defenses took control in the second half. With four minutes left, T. J. Wilson hit a layup and a free throw, giving Gannon a 56-55 lead. Matt Lee responded with a three-pointer on the next possession and then Coleman connected on two free throws to give Hurst a 60-56 edge with 2:55 to go.
 
Adam Blazek split two free throws and then made a basket to get within one point with 2:03 remaining. Blazek missed two free throw attempts with 49 seconds left, but Darrell Blanton's offensive rebound and lay-in put GU ahead 61-60 in the final minute.
 
Bill Weaver made a steal on the next Golden Knight possession and eventually Coleman was fouled with 20 seconds to play. He calmly drained the two free throws and then Mercyhurst hounded Brandon Belt into a difficult 18-footer with three seconds to go. It went wide and Paul Bilbo pulled down the rebound as time expired. 
 
Lee began the game with two free throws in the early going, as both teams got going on offense at the start. Belt and Lee traded threes and then Blanton made two free throw tries. Oscar Macias' jump shot and free throw gave GU an 8-6 edge with 17:20 left in the first half. Bilbo answered with a jumper and then Lee had a powerful dunk on the next trip down, putting the Lakers ahead 10-8.
 
Andrew Rickard made two baskets as Blanton caught fire for the Knights, scoring on three straight possessions. Alvin Tucker's trey gave GU a 20-17 lead, but Coleman came back with his own triple, tying the game with 12:05 to play.
 
The teams stayed close, with Mercyhurst maintaining a slim margin midway through the frame. After a Weaver bucket, Blazek hit a shot and then Blanton followed with a jumper for a 28-27 Gannon advantage. Weaver quickly responded with a layup with 5:38 left and then Rickard drilled a trey for a 32-28 edge. Lee hit from downtown and then Weaver closed the half with a dunk and a putback for a 39-33 Hurst lead at the break.
 
The Golden Knights came out the gates quickly in the second half, as Blazek hit two free throws and Blanton connected on a jumper, making it 41-37 in the first two minutes. Blanton then dunked, which was followed by a tip dunk by Weaver on the next trip down the court.
 
The Knights hit three free throw tries to make it 43-42 with 15:51 to play. The teams went cold from there, with no one scoring for over three minutes until a Terrence Ingram breakaway lay-in. Another three minutes passed before Bilbo hit two free throws for a 47-42 Laker lead. Mercyhurst held the visitors scoreless for 6:39 in the stretch, as a Macias three finally ended the GU drought.
 
Blazek's layup tied the score at 47 before Lee's free throws and a Coleman triple put Hurst back ahead five with 7:25 to go. The squads traded free throws until Blazek's basket with 4:31 pulled GU within 55-53.
 
Lee led Hurst with 18 points, including four triples. Weaver added 11 points and six boards, while Coleman totaled 10 points and three steals. Jamal Turner dished out six assists and just one turnover and Bilbo and Rickard each posted seven points. Blanton and Blazek led the Knights, combining for 44 points and 22 rebounds.
 
The Lakers now host 10^th-ranked Indiana (Pa.) Saturday, January 21, at the MAC. The PSAC West game is set for a 3 p.m. tip-off.
 
For a box score of the Gannon-Mercyhurst game, please click here.