Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team fell, 56-55, to Lock Haven Tuesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Jonathan Ouegnin recorded 16 points and seven rebounds in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover game.

For a photo gallery from the game, please click here.
 
Jean Onana hit a three-pointer on the left wing to give the Lakers a 52-49 edge with 4:14 remaining. After a Bootsie Walker hoop, Onana drove in and scored while being fouled. He hit the ensuing free throw for a 55-51 advantage at the 2:19 mark.
 
Walker answered with a three-point play of his own to pull within one 30 seconds later. The Lakers came up empty on their next possession and then fouled Walker with 29 seconds showing on the clock. He split a pair of foul shots, tying the game at 55. Mercyhurst called timeout to set up a final play, but the Bald Eagles came up with a steal and Walker hit a free throw with one second remaining to escape with a road victory.
 
Ouegnin opened the game with a trey at the 17:47 mark and then Paul Bilbo scored inside to even the score at 5 a minute later. Onana sank a triple with 15:34 to play, but Lock Haven went on an 8-1 run to take the lead.
 
A jumper by Anthony Lytle made it 13-11 LHU with 8:47 to play in the half. After trading free throws, Bilbo made a layup and then Ouegnin drained two foul shots to even the score at 17 with 7:08 remaining. Callon Dailey's lay-in with 5:07 left got the Lakers within three and then James Ewing tipped in a missed shot to inch closer.
 
Two H'ian Hale free throws put the hosts ahead, but Kasheef Festus scored to regain the Eagles' lead. A Greg Williams hoop was answered by a Lock Haven score. Ouegnin followed with a bucket and then the Lakers forced a turnover. With three seconds left, Ouegnin drove inside and scored with 0.5 seconds showing on the clock. He converted on the ensuing free throw to give Mercyhurst a 32-28 halftime advantage.
 
Bilbo got the Lakers started in the second period with a layup. Andy Hoying's three-pointer with 17:25 to go made it 37-31. Eventually, Hepburn tied the game at 39 on a pair of foul shots with 13:22 to play. Ouegnin scored inside on the Lakers' next trip, but the Eagles responded with two straight buckets.
 
Hoying and Bilbo each scored in the lane to keep a slim Laker lead. A Nate Walters layup made it 47-all with 6:35 left. Ewing made a layup to regain a two-point margin, but Walker came back with a tying jumper.
 
Ouegnin led with 16 points on 4-6 field goal shooting. He hit all seven of his free throw attempts. He grabbed seven rebounds as well. Bilbo added 10 points, while Onana had nine. Hepburn paced Lock Haven with 14 points and seven boards.
 
The Lakers shot 18-53 (34 percent) from the floor, while the visitors hit 19-42 (45.2 percent) of its tries. Mercyhurst shot 15-17 at the foul line and held a 22-6 margin in points off turnovers.
 
Mercyhurst dropped to 4-4, while Lock Haven moved to 4-3 this season. The game does not count in PSAC standings.
 
The Lakers host Bloomsburg in another PSAC crossover tomorrow. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the MAC.