Box Score

CLARION, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team lost, 78-51, at Clarion Wednesday night. Marques Jones hit eight three-pointers for the Eagles in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest at Tippin Gymnasium.
 
The Eagles shot well from long range throughout the night. The home team converted 7-13 attempts from downtown in the first twenty minutes. After a layup, Marques Jones made a trey for an early 5-0 edge. Buckets by Callon Dailey and Luis Leao got the Lakers going, but Corey Bellovich hit a three for a 10-4 lead with 15:54 left.
 
Jean Onana scored inside and then Bellovich drained another trey. A Mike Kromka dunk expanded the Clarion advantage to 19-8 at the 11:42 mark. Beau Samuelson hit a triple and then the teams traded foul shots until Jones hit his second three-pointer for a 26-16 lead with 8:16 to play. Leao came back with a three and a lay-in, but Jones answered with another trey.
 
Leao and Jones each hit another triple and then the Lakers tried to rally. Keith Ellington hit a jump shot and then Jonathan Ouegnin blocked a shot and was intentionally fouled on the ensuing layup. He split two free throws and then Paul Bilbo did the same on the Lakers' possession. With less than a minute left, it was Bellovich again. He made a three and a layup for a 39-28 Clarion advantage at halftime.
 
Two more Jones threes early in the second half put the hosts ahead, 52-28, and the Eagles maintained the margin the rest of the way.
 
Leao finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Jones hit 8-10 threes on his way to a career-high 26 points. The Clarion team hit 13-22 treys on the night.
 
The Lakers dropped to 14-10 overall and 10-8 in the PSAC. Clarion improved to 6-16 overall and 4-14 in the conference.
 
Mercyhurst hosts #11 Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday, February 16. The PSAC Western Division game is slated for a 3 p.m. start at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.