Box Score

CALIFORNIA, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team won, 63-56, at California (Pa.) Wednesday night. Jean Onana hit four three-pointers on his way to 14 points to lead the Lakers to a road Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division victory.
 
A 10-0 Cal run tied the game at 49 with 4:23 to go. Andy Hoying put the Lakers back in the lead with a pair of free throws. Hoying followed with a defensive rebound and Jonathan Ouegnin scored while being fouled on the other end. He converted at the line, making it 54-49 with just over three minutes remaining.
 
The Vulcans scored on their next possession, but Hoying found James Ewing for a jumper with 2:30 left. The home team made two foul shots, but Onana sank a jumper to keep the Lakers ahead by five. Each team came up empty on its next trip. Cal split a pair of foul shots with 36 seconds showing on the clock. Onana then set up Ouegnin for an emphatic dunk, expanding the margin to six with 28 seconds to play. Three Hoying free throws sealed the decision for the Lakers.
 
Onana finished with 14 points and three assists. Bilbo scored nine points, while Ouegnin and Callon Dailey each added eight. Ouegnin recorded six rebounds and four assists, while Dailey pulled down seven boards. Hoying chipped in with seven points and six rebounds. Ewing and Greg Williams each had six points.
 
With two of the top 16 defensive units in the nation squaring off, it was no surprise that scoring was at a premium. Jonathan Ouegnin began scoring with a three-pointer, ending a game-opening stretch of 2:22 without a point. The Vulcans responded with an 11-0 spurt to take control before James Ewing scored inside to make it 11-5 at the 13:43 mark.
 
After a Cal bucket, Callon Dailey hit a jumper and Anthony Lytle and Greg Williams each made a free throw. The Vulcans scored, but Ewing made another lay-in to pull within four. Cal responded with a three, but Jean Onana sank a trey of his own at the 9:03 mark.
 
A Williams jump shot was answered by a Vulcan basket before Onana drained another triple. An Andy Hoying jumper gave the Lakers a 21-20 edge with 6:47 to go in the period. Lytle followed with a jump shot to stretch the margin, but Cal scored in the lane. Paul Bilbo made a layup and Cal scored in the final minute, making it 25-24 Mercyhurst at halftime.
 
Bilbo had a strong start to the second half, scoring twice in the first two minutes. A Dailey jumper and a Bilbo foul shot made it 32-26 Lakers with 16:49 left. Two Dailey buckets expanded the lead and then Williams sank a trey to give Mercyhurst a 39-28 advantage. After two Cal free throws, Bilbo scored in the paint and then Onana drilled another three, making it 44-30 with 11:15 to play.
 
The Vulcans scored seven straight points to get back into the game, but Lytle connected to slow the momentum. After a Cal hoop, Onana sank his fourth trey of the night to give the Lakers a 49-39 lead at the 7:39 mark. The hosts rallied with 10 consecutive points to even the score with 4:23 left.
 
Mercyhurst improved to 12-8 overall and 8-2 in the PSAC. It has won four in a row and is tied for first place in the Western Division with IUP. Cal dropped to 9-12 overall and 4-7 in the league. The Lakers host rival Gannon on Saturday, February 8, at the MAC. Tip-off for the PSAC Western Division contest is slated for 3 p.m.