Box Score

WEST CHESTER, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team lost, 80-72, at West Chester Friday afternoon. Jonathan Ouegnin led with 18 points and seven rebounds in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover at Hollinger Fieldhouse.
 
The first half was a high-scoring one, with both teams doing damage offensively. Anthony Lytle got the Lakers on the board 26 seconds in. Callon Dailey was fouled shooting a three-pointer and converted all three ensuing free throw attempts. Jonathon Ouegnin followed with two more made foul shots for a 7-6 edge with 17:59 remaining in the period.
 
Lytle sank a jumper and then Greg Williams drained a trey at the 15:31 mark, giving the Lakers a 12-9 advantage. After a Ram hoop, Beau Samuelson drilled a triple with 14:51 to go. West Chester answered with two straight jumpers, but James Ewing came back with a layup and a 17-15 edge with 13:39 left. Baskets by Lytle and Jean Onana kept Mercyhurst ahead, 22-19, midway through the half.
 
Two Williams free throws and a Paul Bilbo jump shot allowed the visitors to maintain a slim margin, but the Rams responded with a small run, taking a 31-27 lead with 6:23 showing on the clock. Ouegnin connected from long range and then Terrence Ingram scored his first points of the season with a layup for a 36-33 advantage.
 
Ouegnin made a layup at the 2:09 mark and then Williams hit a pair of free throws. After a Troy Hockaday three, Ouegnin closed the first frame with a layup in the final minute, sending Mercyhurst into the locker room with a 43-39 lead. The 43 points are the most by the Lakers in the first half this season.
 
Onana made a jumper early in the second half and then Ouegnin drained another three for a 48-43 edge at the 18:06 mark. West Chester scored and then made a foul shot before Ouegnin tipped in a miss with 16:44 remaining. R.J. Griffin then made a jumper and two free throws to even the score at 50 with 14:45 to play.
 
A Bilbo putback gave the Lakers the lead again, but three Ram foul shots put the hosts back ahead. Buckets by Williams and Ingram tied the score with 10:53 left. After five consecutive Ram points, James Ewing made a free throw and Ouegnin hit a pair at the line. West Chester made another foul shot before Dailey converted a pair at the stripe, pulling with a point at 62-61 with 6:59 remaining.
 
The home team followed with three straight points, but Dailey hit a triple at the 5:19 mark, making it 67-64 Rams. Hockaday hit a jumper and then Lytle scored inside, keeping the deficit at three points. A Bilbo dunk capped a back-and-forth exchange between the teams, as the Lakers trailed, 71-68, with 4:14 left.
 
West Chester hit a three-pointer and then connected on three free throws. After a Lytle basket, the Rams made another foul shot, taking a 78-70 lead with 2:03 to go. Mercyhurst was unable to convert offensively as the Rams ran the clock out.
 
Ouegnin totaled 18 points on 5-7 shooting. He grabbed seven rebounds and three steals. Lytle added 11 points, while Williams scored nine. Five Rams scored in double figures.
 
The Lakers shot 23-48 (47.9 percent) from the field and WCU hit 25-49 (51 percent) of its attempts.
 
Mercyhurst (5-6) heads to Cheyney for another PSAC crossover tomorrow. The contest is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.