Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team defeated #11 Indiana (Pa.), 57-48, Saturday afternoon, taking down the Crimson Hawks for the third straight season at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. With the win, the Lakers have pulled into position to host a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament game.
 
Mercyhurst held IUP to a season-low point total and the fewest points scored by a Crimson Hawk team since last season's 71-47 bashing at the MAC.


 
After a hot start, the Lakers went on a cold spell in the middle of the game, but found their way just in time. Indiana took a 29-22 lead with 16:06 left. The hosts went on a 11-0 run over the next seven minutes to take control of the contest. Mercyhurst held its opponent without a field goal for 11:30 of game action in the second period.
 
Terrence Ingram was a big factor in the Lakers' comeback, scoring 17 points, all in the last 14:42 of the game. He began with a three-pointer to make it 29-25. Devonte Chance responded with a layup at the 13:09 mark for a 33-25 lead. The Laker defense throttled the Hawks from there, as Ingram took over offensively.
 
Andy Hoying hit a jumper to start the 11-0 spurt. Ingram followed with a steal and a layup, then drained a trey to get within 33-32. A Luis Leao steal and lay-in gave the home team a 34-33 edge with 9:07 to go. Ingram found Leao for another hoop and then Callon Dailey scored to make it 38-33 at the 7:14 mark.
 
Dan Ayebo finally got IUP back on the board with a pair of foul shots. Scooter Renkin split two free throws and Leao answered with two makes at the line. Another Ingram triple made it 43-36 with 4:13 left. The sophomore then made two free throws to expand the advantage. Indiana connected on two foul shots, but Ingram came back with a pair of his own.
 
 Leao scored inside to go ahead, 50-42, and then Renkin made a layup to break the stretch without a field goal. He also hit the ensuing free throw to cut the deficit to 50-45 with 69 seconds to play. Leao answered with a bucket and then the Lakers converted 5-6 from the line to ice the victory.
 
In the first half, the Lakers responded to a raucous home crowd with a solid start. Dailey hit a jumper and Paul Bilbo scored. IUP evened the score, but Dailey followed with a trey and then Jonathan Ouegnin sank a jump shot. Leao stretched the lead to 12-6 with 14:21 remaining. Two more Dailey baskets put the hosts ahead, 16-6, with 10:58 left. A three-point play by Leao made it 19-6.
 
The Hawks got going after that, as Marcel Souberbielle sank a three and then Mathis Keita hit two free throws and a trey. A Chance triple made it 19-17. Leao drilled a three of his own to keep the Lakers up with 3:46 left, but Mercyhurst went dry after that. The visitors scored the final seven points of the half to take a 24-22 halftime edge.
 
The Lakers were unable to score early in the second frame as well. Indiana took its 29-22 lead with 16:06 to play. Fortunately for the MAC crowd, the Lakers rallied.
 
Leao totaled 19 points and nine rebounds. Ingram matched a career high with 17 points. Dailey broke out of a slump with 12 points, three assists, and three steals. Ouegnin recorded four points, seven boards, four assists, two blocks, and two steals. Keita paced the Hawks with 12 points.
 
The Laker defense held Indiana to 4-21 three-point shooting. IUP shot 36.8 percent from the field, including 7-24 in the second half.
 
With the victory, Mercyhurst secured a winning regular season for the eighth straight season, the most consecutive winning campaigns in program history. The Lakers can also clinch a first-round PSAC Tournament home game by winning their final three regular season outings.
 
The closing stretch continues with senior night on Wednesday, February 20, against local rival Gannon. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the MAC.