Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team defeated Seton Hill, 79-74, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division opener at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center Wednesday. Jean Onana scored a career-high 29 points to lead the Lakers to a victory in their home opener.
 
The game featured 77 free throws and 57 total fouls. Both teams shot 24 foul shots in the second half.
 
The Lakers led, 39-31, at halftime. Seton Hill clawed back into the game, slowly chipping away at the Mercyhurst advantage throughout the second period. It eventually pulled within a point at the 4:15 mark. Jonathan Ouegnin answered with a big three-pointer for a 67-63 lead.
 
The teams traded free throws and then H'ian Hale split a pair at the line. After Max Kenyi sank his 17^th and 18^th free throws of the night, the score was 70-67 Lakers with 1:37 to play. Another Griffin free throw cut the deficit further. With the shot clock winding down, Onana drilled a trey with 35 seconds showing on the clock. Oliver McGlade came down and sank a three of his own, making it 73-71 Mercyhurst. Hale then connected on four straight foul shots and Onana clinched it with two more makes at the line as time ran down.
 
The contest started slowly for both offenses, as a Griffin three-pointer made it 11-10 after almost eight minutes of action. Anthony Lytle then sparked the Lakers with a huge half off the bench. The Altoona, Pennsylvania, native made two layups, with the second an and-1, to pull within 21-20 with 6:08 left. After two SHU free throws, Lytle nailed a triple to even the score at 23 with 5:34 to play.
 
He followed with another bucket inside and then two foul shots. After two Greg Williams free throws made it 29-25 Lakers, Lytle made another lay-in. Williams found Ouegnin for an alley-oop and a 33-27 lead with 2:20 remaining. Onana expanded the margin with a trey and then Lytle split two free throws and made a layup for a 39-31 lead heading into the locker room. Lytle finished the half with 17 points on 6-7 shooting.
 
Onana led with 29 points on 9-14 field goal shooting. He made four triples and went 7-9 at the charity stripe. Lytle added 17 points in 13 minutes. Ouegnin posted 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Kenyi paced the Griffins with 25 points 18-21 foul shooting.
 
Mercyhurst shot 22-46 (47.8 percent) from the field and converted 28-37 (75.7 percent) at the line. Seton Hill shot 18-46 (39.1 percent) from the floor, hitting 34-40 (85 percent) free throws.

The Lakers improved to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference. They head to Daemen for a non-league match on Saturday, November 23. The game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. tip.