Box Score
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team lost, 56-48, at Slippery Rock Saturday afternoon.
Luis Leao had 15 points and eight rebounds in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest at Morrow Field House.
Defense had its way at the start of the day, as both teams struggled to score.
Paul Bilbo made a layup 1:18 into the game and then Darious Clark hit a three-pointer at the 17:18 mark to take a 3-2 edge. After five minutes, SRU led, 6-2.
Terrence Ingram hit a trey, but Clark answered with a three of his own. Bilbo and Leao each made two layups to even the score at 13 with 8:11 left in the first half.
Devin Taylor scored four points to regain control for The Rock, but buckets by Bilbo and
Andy Hoying allowed Mercyhurst to hang around. The hosts led, 24-19, at halftime.
SRU had a hot start to the second half, going on a 13-3 run, including three straight three-pointers. Down 37-22, the Lakers responded.
Keith Ellington hit a jump shot and then
Callon Dailey made back-to-back shots. After a Rock free throw, Leao finished a three-point play to get within 38-31 with 12:40 to go.
Slippery Rock scored, but Mercyhurst came back with a Bilbo layup and two Leao foul shots to make it 40-35 at the 10:10 mark. The defenses took over from there. Devin Taylor's pair of free throws were the only points until the 6:32 mark, when Leao hit two free throws. A Rock layup and trey expanded the lead to 47-37 with 5:37 showing on the clock. SRU made 7-9 free throws in the last three minutes to hold off the Lakers.
Leao led with 15 points on 4-11 field goal shooting 7-9 free throw shooting. Bilbo recorded 12 points and four boards, while Dailey added nine points. Taylor and Tabari Perry each scored 15 points for The Rock.
The Lakers are now 11-6 overall and 7-4 in the league. The Rock moved to 12-3 overall and 9-2 in the PSAC.
Mercyhurst makes the short trip to Gannon on Wednesday, January 23, for another PSAC West game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Hammermill Center.
