Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball lost, 56-54, to Gannon at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center Saturday afternoon. Greg Williams and Jean Onana each scored 14 points to lead the Lakers in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division clash, played in front of 1,321 fans.
 
The rivalry game lived up to the expectations, as both teams played strong defense as the contest came down to the wire. Paul Bilbo scored inside to pull within one at 51-50 with 4:18 remaining. After each team committed a turnover, Bilbo grabbed an offensive rebound and scored while being fouled. He missed the free throw, but Callon Dailey corralled the offensive board, giving the Lakers possession and a 52-51 edge with 2:40 to go.
 
At the 2:09 mark, Jonathan Ouegnin was fouled. He sank both foul shots for a three-point advantage. Gannon answered with a three-point play, as Adam Blazek scored and made a free throw to even the score with 1:36 left. Both teams came up empty on their next trip, but GU knocked the ball off the Lakers, allowing the Knights' possession to continue with 26 seconds to play.
 
A'Darius Porter scored with 24 seconds showing on the clock, giving Mercyhurst a final shot opportunity. The Lakers eventually called timeout with four seconds left, but they were unable to get a shot up as time expired.
 
Williams hit three three-pointers on his way to 14 points. Onana recorded 14 points, while Bilbo added eight. Raphell Thomas-Edwards led Gannon with 17 points.
 
In the first half, neither team led by more than three points. Bilbo scored twice early and then Onana hit a jumper to tie the game at 6 with 14:28 remaining in the frame. A Williams trey put the hosts on top, but two GU buckets gave the Knights a 12-11 edge with 11:33 to play.
 
After a Gannon three, Andy Hoying drained a triple to keep the Lakers within one. The visitors scored, but Onana drilled a three-pointer, tying the match at 17 with 3:46 left. Baskets by Anthony Lytle and Williams kept it tied and then Williams hit a trey with three seconds remaining in the half, sending the Lakers into the break with a 24-21 advantage.
 
Buckets by Lytle and Dailey gave Mercyhurst a 28-22 margin early in the second half, but GU responded, taking a 31-30 lead with 14:08 remaining. Dailey made a jumper and then Williams was fouled while shooting a three. He calmly sank all three foul shots to extend the lead. Thomas-Edwards finished a three-point play with 11:45 to play, but Onana was fouled while shooting from downtown. He hit each attempt at the line, putting the Lakers back ahead, 39-38, with 10:12 left.
 
Gannon scored the game's next five points, but an Onana trey slowed the momentum. The visitors brought the lead back to four, but Williams connected from long range again, making it 49-48 with 5:30 showing on the clock.
 
Mercyhurst shot 17-39 (43.6 percent) from the floor. Gannon hit 22-39 (56.4 percent) of its attempts.
 
The teams have now split the season series. With a loss by California (Pa.) at Edinboro later today, both Mercyhurst and Gannon will clinch berths in the PSAC Tournament.
 
Mercyhurst is now 12-9 overall and 8-3 in the PSAC. Gannon moved to 14-8 overall and 9-3 in the league. The Lakers host Slippery Rock in another Western Division game on Wednesday, February 12, at the MAC.

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