Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team defeated California (Pa.), 64-51, Wednesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Jonathan Ouegnin posted 19 points, six rebounds, and six assists to lead the Lakers to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division victory.


 
The Lakers led, 34-22, at the half, but the Vulcans stayed in the game. A pair three-pointers by Tynell Fortune pulled Cal within 38-33 with 14:08 remaining. Anthony Lytle answered with a jumper, and after two Vulcan free throws, Greg Williams sank a three-pointer to make it 43-35 with 10:39 left. The teams traded foul shots before James Ewing made a layup for a 47-37 advantage with 8:50 to play.
 
A three and two free throws got the visitors within 48-44, but Callon Dailey connected on a pair of foul shots and then Williams drained another triple with 4:50 remaining. Ouegnin then found Ltyle for a thunderous fast break dunk to put the Lakers up, 55-46. After two Vulcan free throws, Williams sank a three with 3:23 to go, ending any hopes of a Cal rally.
 
Ewing scored on the first possession of the game and then Ouegnin made a steal and two-handed dunk for a 4-0 lead early. Two Cal threes evened the score at 6-all after three minutes of play. A Lytle lay-in and a Ouegnin triple put the home team back in the lead and then Dailey hit a trey and a jumper to make it 18-9 with 12:38 remaining.
 
Fortune's bucket slowed the Laker run, but Ouegnin hit a pair of free throws. After a Vulcan three, Ouegnin drilled a triple of his own for a 23-14 advantage at the 8:35 mark. With 5:49 showing on the clock, Lytle stepped into a three, giving the hosts a 28-20 lead. Hoops by Dailey and Ouegnin expanded the margin and then Andy Hoying made a layup to cap the first half.
 
Ouegnin finished with 19 points on 4-5 shooting. He hit 2-3 three-point tries and 9-12 foul shots. He added six rebounds and six assists to go against one turnover. Lytle recorded 11 points points on 4-5 shooting, while Dailey added 10 points and four rebounds. Williams had nine points on 3-4 accuracy from downtown.
 
Mercyhurst used a 24-6 advantage in paint points and a 23-12 margin in points off turnovers. It shot 48.8 percent (21-43) from the field, containing Cal to 12-39 (30.8 percent) shooting. The 12 made field goals are the fewest by a Laker foe since November 2012.
 
Coach Gary Manchel's squad improved to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the PSAC. It heads to rival Gannon on Saturday, December 7, for a 7:30 tip.