Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team won, 52-43, at Clarion Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Lakers clinched the third seed in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament.
 
An Aaron Johnson layup made it 41-37 Mercyhurst with 8:10 remaining Sunday. On the Lakers' next possession, Andy Hoying found Jean Onana for a three-pointer. After another Johnson hoop, Hoying finished a Callon Dailey pass for a layup and a 46-39 advantage at the 5:38 mark. Clarion followed with a free throw and then a layup to pull within four points, but Jonathan Ouegnin hit Hoying for another layup with 1:50 to play. Onana and Dailey each sank two foul shots in the final minute to secure the decision.
 
Mercyhurst started slowly, falling behind, 11-2, after 6:57 of action. Beau Samuelson converted a pair of free throws with 11:13 left in the first to trim the deficit. Clarion hit a jumper, but Anthony Lytle came back with a basket and then Onana scored in the lane to make it 13-8 at the 7:48 mark. BJ Andrews made a layup for the Golden Eagles, but Onana was ready to take charge of the contest.
 
With 7:13 to go in the half, Onana connected on a jumper. Each team committed a turnover and then Onana sank another jump shot. After another Clarion turnover, Onana drained a trey to even the score at 15 with 3:50 showing on the clock. Onana grabbed a rebound and eventually Dailey scored to give the Lakers the lead. Less than a minute later, Onana hit another jumper, capping an 11-0 run.
 
Johnson scored the hosts, but Ouegnin answered with a jumper with 55 seconds left. Andrews made a three-pointer to send the teams to the locker rooms with Mercyhurst ahead, 21-20.
 
Anthony Baker made a three to start the second half, but Dailey and Onana responded with jumpers. Another Baker trey made it 26-25 Clarion with 18:24 to play. Dailey sank a triple of his own and then made a jump shot for a four-point difference. Two James Ewing buckets expanded the margin and then Onana scored again, making it 38-30 at the 11:27 mark. Johnson made a three to set up the closing stretch.
 
Mercyhurst allowed a season-low 43 points in the road victory. It allowed fewer than 70 points for the 20^th time, fewer than 60 points for the 12^th time and fewer than 50 points for the third time this season.
 
Onana scored 22 points on 8-11 shooting. He also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds. Dailey added 11 points and six boards, while Hoying tallied six points and five rebounds. Baker led Clarion with 12 points.
 
The Lakers shot 19-45 (42.2 percent) from the floor. Clarion was 16-48 (33.3 percent) on its tries. Mercyhurst converted 11-13 foul shots, while the Eagles shot just 3-12 at the free throw line. The Lakers held a 38-28 rebounding advantage.

Coach Gary Manchel's squad improved to 15-10 overall and 11-4 in the Western Division. Clarion fell to 5-18 overall and 3-12 in the league. The Lakers host Pitt-Johnstown in the regular season finale on Wednesday, February 26. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the MAC.