Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team lost 56-42 at Gannon Wednesday night. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest was played at Gannon's Hammermill Center.
 
Trailing 27-22 at the half, the Lakers had a strong start in the second frame. Three-pointers by Keith Ellington and Luis Leao made it 30-28 Gannon with 17:36 to play. GU responded with a jumper and a trey to take a 35-28 advantage with 16:34 remaining. Over the next 5:27 of action, the teams combined for an odd sequence that featured no points on the scoreboard. The teams totaled nine turnovers and four missed four layups by the Knights. Jonathan Ouegnin had a monster block on an Adam Blazek breakaway attempt.
 
An Ellington layup finally broke the spell with 11:07 left. Blazek hit a three and Darrell Blanton made a jump shot to stretch the hosts' lead to 40-30. An Andy Hoying hoop and a Paul Bilbo three-point play got the Lakers within 42-35 with just over eight minutes to go. An 8-0 GU run gave the home team control and Mercyhurst could not muster enough offense to rally.
 
The teams played an evenly-matched first half. A Callon Dailey three-pointer was the Lakers' lone field goal through seven minutes, but Mercyhurst's defense kept the visitors in the action. Down 9-4, Dailey drained another jumper with 12:58 to play.
 
The Knights eventually took a 14-6 advantage, but Leao made a trey and a jumper to get the Lakers close. A Dailey steal and layup made it 14-13 and then Hoying sank a jump shot to take the lead with 6:30 showing on the clock. After GU regained the edge, Dailey drained his second triple of the half to tie the game at 20 with 4:21 left.
 
A Ellington basket put the Lakers ahead, but Mercyhurst would not score in the final three minutes of the period. A Robert Wilson three-pointer and a Blanton putback made it 27-22 Knights at halftime. Despite being outrebounded, 20-3, the Lakers were in the game.
 
Dailey finished with 15 points on three three-pointers. Leao had 13 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Blanton led GU with 20 points and eight boards.
 
Mercyhurst was outrebounded, 34-11, and Gannon held a 26-8 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Mercyhurst (11-6, 7-5 PSAC) next plays at Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday, January 26. Tip-off for the PSAC West match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.