SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team fell, 73-71 in overtime, at Slippery Rock Saturday. Luis Leao scored a season-high 27 points in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division loss.
 
Hurst fought back throughout the second half and overtime to stay in the game. Tabari Perry hit a three-pointer to put the Rock ahead 62-57 with 3:55 to go in regulation, but Leao's three-point play with just under three minutes to play got the Lakers within three. The teams traded free throws and then Leao stole the ball and laid it in on the fast break, tying the game at 63 with 1:35 left. Luiz Santos hit a jumper with 11:11 remaining, but the Lakers tied it on the next possession. Matt Lee's shot was deflected by Devin Taylor, but Jamal Turner grabbed the rebound and threw the ball to the hoop, where Bill Weaver redirected it in with 30 seconds left. The Rock had two shots in the final seconds, but neither fell, sending the game into overtime.
 
In the extra frame, Taylor's free throw was the only point in the first 2:45 of action. Taylor made a jump shot at that juncture, giving the Rock a 68-65 edge. Leao split two free throws on the other end, but John Bayardelle drained a trey with 1:33 to play. Lee hit a long two-pointer and then Taylor made another free throw to put the hosts ahead 72-68 with 21 seconds left. Leao's triple with seven seconds on the clock got the Lakers within one, but Valeriano made split a pair of free throw tries and Mercyhurst could not get a shot off in the last seconds.
 
Hurst fell to 14-6 overall and 12-4 in the PSAC. The Rock is now 13-7 and 10-6 in the conference.
 
Both teams came out firing on all cylinders early. Valeriano hit a three-pointer and then Leao answered with a jumper and a trey of his own.  Perry and Jonathan Ouegnin traded triples, and then Devin Taylor drained a three. Weaver hit a jumper and Lee drained a trey, putting Hurst ahead 13-9 with 15:24 left in the first half.
 
Aubin Reeves came back with jumper for the Rock and then Lee connected for two points. Valeriano responded with another three-pointer and Taylor hit a bucket, giving SRU a 16-15 edge with 13:49 remaining. Andrew Rickard went on to drain a triple, tying the score at 18. After Santos' three-point play, Leao hit a shot and then Lee connected from downtown. Reeves made a three and Weaver answered with a basket. The teams cooled off after that.
 
A Leao jumper with 6:45 to play gave Hurst a 31-26 lead. Perry and Valeriano each hit treys to put the hosts back ahead. Jamal Turner hit a bank shot from the right side and then Santos made a lay-in with 1:25 to play. Lee converted two free throws in the final minute, but Reeves scored in the last seconds to put the Rock up 38-35 at the break.
 
Turner made a shot and then Lee hit two straight, putting the Lakers ahead 41-39 with 17:26 to go. Taylor's trey got the Rock back in the lead, but Hurst would not go away. Slippery Rock maintained a close margin midway through the half and then Santos made a three-point play to put the hosts up 51-45 with 12:18 to play. Leao and Santos traded buckets a few minutes later before Terrence Ingram hit a trey to make it 55-52 Rock with 8:13 left.
 
Leao's three-pointer with 6:27 left evened the score. Santos and Lee both made baskets before Bayardelle's jumper put the Rock up 57-55 with just over five minutes remaining.
 
Leao led the Lakers with 27 points on 11-17 shooting, including 3-3 from long range. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out four assists and made two steals in 35 minutes. Lee scored 19 points and pulled down eight boards. Santos had 15 for SRU, along with 11 rebounds, including eight offensive.
 
The Lakers return to the MAC for another PSAC West contest Wednesday, February 8. Clarion comes to Erie for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
 
For a box score of the Mercyhurst-Slippery Rock game, please click here.