Box Score
CHEYNEY, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team won, 54-44, at Cheyney Saturday afternoon. The Lakers allowed a season-low 44 points in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover at Cope Hall.
Mercyhurst took an early lead before Cheyney went on an extended run to end the first half and begin the second. The Lakers found themselves trailing, 36-29, after a Deshawn Curtis three-point play with 16:09 remaining. Mercyhurst contained the Wolves to eight points over the remainder of the day, harassing the hosts into 3-18 field goal shooting in the final 16 minutes.
Andy Hoying was the offensive catalyst for the comeback, starting an 11-0 by hitting a jumper and then a three-pointer with 14:17 left.
James Ewing split a pair of foul shots and then
Paul Bilbo scored inside for a 37-36 edge at the 11:52 mark.
Jean Onana followed with a trey 32 seconds later, making 40-36.
The Wolves scored with just under 11 minutes to go, but
Jonathan Ouegnin converted three foul shots on the other end. Hoying made another free throw, but Cheyney answered with a three-point play to make it 44-41 with 7:20 remaining.
Beau Samuelson made a layup and then
Callon Dailey and
Jean Onana each split a pair of foul shots, giving the Lakers a 48-41 advantage at the 3:36 mark.
Curtis connected on a three to pull within four points at the 2:59 mark, but
Anthony Lytle hit a jumper and then later made a free throw. Ouegnin and Dailey sealed the game at the foul line in the final minute.
In the first half, jumpers by Dailey and Onana put Mercyhurst ahead, 6-5, with 15:31 left. Cheyney responded with an 8-4 run, but Dailey sank a jump shot to slow the momentum. Bilbo made two free throws and Lytle scored in the lane, giving the Lakers a 15-13 edge with 8:21 to play in the frame. Onana continued the attack with two foul shots and then Samuelson drilled a triple. Hoying capped the 13-0 skein with a jumper, assisted by Samuelson, at the 5:12 mark. The Wolves closed the period on a 16-5 charge to gain control.
Hoying led with 11 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes. Onana added 10 points, while Bilbo scored eight. Lytle posted five points, nine boards, and four assists. Curtis paced Cheyney with 18 points and six rebounds.
The Lakers forced the Wolves into 33.3 percent field goal shooting (15-45), including 5-22 shooting in the second half. Mercyhurst also enjoyed a 37-25 advantage in rebounding, contributing to a 13-5 lead in second chance points.
The 44 points are the fewest given up by Mercyhurst since February 20, 2013, when it allowed 36 to Gannon. The 15 second-half points by Cheyney are also the fewest allowed since that same game (13).
The Lakers moved to 6-6 with the victory. They host Millersville in another PSAC crossover on Wednesday, January 8, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
