Box Score

INDIANA, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team fell, 74-66, at #12 Indiana (Pa.). The Lakers shot a season-high 54.3 percent from the field in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division game.

Mercyhurst, who was ranked tenth in the first NCAA Regional Rankings released Wednesday afternoon, is now alone in the third in the PSAC West. With wins over Clarion or Pitt-Johnstown in the next week, the Lakers will secure the third seed in the PSAC Tournament. Mercyhurst has already clinched a home game in the conference playoffs.

Two H'ian Hale free throws made it 55-54 IUP with 7:23 left. After four Indiana points, Callon Dailey drained a three-pointer to pull within two. Marcel Souberbielle answered with a three for the Hawks, but Andy Hoying sank a jumper. The hosts converted a three-point play but a Jean Onana layup made it 65-61 at the 2:33 mark. IUP answered with six straight free throws to take control. 

After falling behind 4-0 in the opening minutes, the Lakers got a rare transition basket. Onana made a steal and then set up Jonathan Ouegnin for a two-handed dunk. Onana followed with a jumper on the Lakers' next trip, tying the game with 15:46 left in the half. Indiana finished a three-point play, but James Ewing scored in the lane and then Hoying drained two jumpers for a 10-7 advantage at the 13:53 mark.

The hosts scored, but Dailey responded with a jump shot. IUP scored six straight points before Onana sank a trey to make it 15-all with 10:46 showing on the clock. Anthony Lytle scored between a pair of Crimson Hawk threes. Hale made a deft finish while being fouled at the seven-minute mark. He converted the ensuing foul shot to cut the deficit. IUP took a 24-20 edge, but Greg Williams hit a triple.

After two Hawk hoops, the Lakers went on a 6-0 run to take the lead. Dailey, Ouegnin, and Lytle each scored to make it 29-28 with 2:25 remaining in the period. Brandon Norfleet scored for Indiana, but Dailey drained a baseline jumper in the waning seconds for a 31-30 lead at halftime.

Two Lytle free throws made it a three-point game before Indiana hit a three to even the score. Layups by Ouegnin and Onana put the Lakers back ahead by four, but the Hawks scored twice to tie it again. After a Dailey jumper, the hosts went up, 44-39, with 15:18 left. Hoops by Ewing and Sean Beins got Mercyhurst closer, but Devonte Chance made a three to give Indiana a 47-43 advantage. 

Onana finished with 13 points and three steals. Dailey and Lytle each scored 11, while Ouegnin recorded eight points, five boards, and three assists. Chance and Norfleet each had 18 for the Hawks. 

Mercyhurst hit 25-46 (54.3 percent) from the floor, while IUP shot 22-45 (48.9 percent) on its attempts. The Hawks shot 25-27 from the foul line.

The Lakers are now 14-10 overall and 10-4 in the PSAC Western Division. Indiana moved to 21-3 overall and 11-3 in the league. Mercyhurst plays at Clarion on Sunday, February 23, at 3 p.m.