INDIANA, Pa, - The Mercyhurst men's basketball team handed #5 Indiana (Pa.) their first loss of the season on the road at the Kovalchick Center, 65-62. Junior Damon Jones led the Lakers with a career-high 20 points off the bench while Gerrae Williams added 11.  

In the first half, Indiana (Pa.) opened their largest lead of the night with 2:47 to play, 30-23. Mercyhurst would cut into the Crimson Hawk lead when Sean Onana was fouled attempting a three-point shot and converted on all three free-throws.

A made IUP jumper led to two made free-throws from Noah Vickers. Indiana (Pa.) would add a free-throw of their own, before Sean Beins made an and-one with 17 seconds remaining in the half. Beins drained the free-throw and sent Mercyhurst into the locker room down two, 33-31.

The Lakers would start the second half on a 9-2 run to open up a four point lead, 39-35, at the 16:20 mark.

Mercyhurst would not stop there, as the Lakers would go on to a 15-1 run over an 8:12 span. Jones ignited the spurt, scoring 10 of the 15 points. Onana drained his only made three-pointer of the game to put Mercyhurst up 15, 59-44, with 4:36 left to play.

However, IUP would fight their way back to make things interesting in the last few minutes. Davante Chance was fouled attempting a three in the corner with 2.0 seconds left with Mercyhurst leading, 65-61. Chance front-ended the first free-throw, made the second, then intentionally missed the third, but Hoying was there to secure the rebound and clinch the victory.

The Lakers shot 63.6% (7-11) from three-point range, the best percentage Mercyhurst has shot this season. Mercyhurst would also shoot 51.2% (21-41) from the floor and 80.0% (16-20) from the charity stripe.

The win marks back-to-back victories over the Crimson Hawks at the Kovalchick Center and improved the Lakers' record to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). IUP falls to 7-1, 1-1 PSAC.

Mercyhurst will be back in action Saturday at Edinboro. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.