WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team lost, 66-58, to East Stroudsburg in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament semifinals Friday evening at West Chester. The loss likely ends the Lakers' season.
 
After a strong first half saw Hurst take a 33-25 lead into the break, the Warriors turned the tide early in the second frame. Whis Grant made two free throws and then Russell Graham III split a pair from the line. Eric Bryan followed with a three-pointer and then Grant drained a trey to put ESU ahead, 34-33, with 17:40 left.
 
A Laker turnover set up a Bryan jumper before Bill Weaver scored Hurst's first points of the half with two free throws. Bryan hit another jump shot to keep the Warriors up three with 16:14 to go. Grant converted four more free throws and then Terrance King dunked to make it 44-35. The 19-2 run swung the matchup for the rest of the night.
 
With 14:46 remaining, Luis Leao scored inside and then Matt Lee had a tip-in to get Hurst within five. Gerald Bridges, Jr., followed with a triple, which led to a four-minute scoreless stretch. With 8:25 to play, King dunked. Andrew Rickard scored, but Duane Johnson answered with a bucket to put ESU up 10.
 
Rickard drilled a trey and then Weaver dunked to get the Lakers within 51-46 at the 5:46 mark. The teams traded free throws for the next several minutes before Leao's three-point play gave Mercyhurst life with 3:12 showing on the clock. However, Hurst missed its next three shots and the Warriors hit three free throws to put the game out of reach.  
 
Grant started the contest with two buckets, but Lee responded with a three-pointer. Leao hit a triple and Lee made a jumper to give Mercyhurst an 8-4 edge five minutes in. Leao and Graham traded hoops and then Paul Bilbo converted a three-point play. Jonathan Ouegnin's tip-in and Leao's three-point play gave the Lakers a 20-11 advantage with 11 minutes left.
 
Bryan and Weaver each scored and then Johnson connected on two free throw tries. A few minutes later, Leao made a jump shot and then Christian Heine was fouled shooting a three and converted all three ensuing attempts with 4:54 to go. Matt Tobin's three-point play kept East Stroudsburg in it, and then Graham scored. Johnson's two free throws with just over three minutes to play made it 29-25. Lee came back with two free throws and then a basket to make it an eight-point game.  
 
Leao finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He hit 7-12 shots. Lee had 11 points. Rickard and Weaver each added nine points, while Jamal Turner dished out five assists. Grant led the Warriors with 18 points and Bryan posted 11. King totaled nine points and 15 boards.
 
The Lakers hit 20-57 shots from the field, while ESU converted 19-49 attempts. Hurst made 14-16 free throw tries and the victors were 25-33 from the charity stripe.
 
Mercyhurst concluded the season with an overall record of 18-10. The Warriors advance to the PSAC Championship tomorrow night. They will face the winner of the IUP-West Chester semifinal.
 
For a box score of the East Stroudsburg-Mercyhurst game, please click here.