Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team rallied to beat California (Pa.), 54-50, in the first round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Saturday afternoon. Jean Onana and Anthony Lytle combined for 35 points to lead the Lakers past the Vulcans at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
With the win, Mercyhurst advances to the PSAC Tournament Quarterfinals. It will play at #11 Indiana (Pa.) on Tuesday, March 4, at a time to be announced. Check hurstathletics.com on Monday for further details.
 
On Saturday, the Lakers found themselves down, 40-31, with 11:10 to play. Onana and Lytle were ready to put the team on their backs, though, as the duo scored 18 of the Lakers' last 23 points down the stretch. Onana scored while being fouled with 10:52 left. After a Cal free throw, Jonathan Ouegnin found Terrence Ingram for a corner three-pointer.
 
Onana continued the momentum with a pair of foul shots. Tynell Fortune followed with a banked-in three at the shot clock buzzer, putting Cal ahead, 44-38, with 8:49 left. Lytle answered with a jumper in the lane. Fortune came back with two free throws, but Onana then drained a trey to make it 46-43 with 5:33 showing on the clock.
 
Ouegnin then made a steal and scored on the other end, pulling within a point. Neither team could score on the next several possessions until the Vulcans sank two foul shots to take a 48-45 advantage with less than three minutes to play. Onana converted two foul shots of his own on the next Laker possession. The Vulcans followed with a turnover and Onana took advantage. The sophomore pulled up from 15 feet and swished a go-ahead jumper, giving the hosts a 49-48 edge with 1:39 left.
 
Cal missed a three-point try on its trip and Lytle sank a jumper to stretch the margin. Lytle then blocked an Arman Marks three-point attempt. Lytle grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 22 seconds left. He hit both foul shots and then blocked another Cal shot to inch closer to victory. After Fortune scored to pull within three, Onana sealed it with a free throw with two seconds to go.
 
Onana finished with 19 points and four rebounds. Lytle recorded 16 points and seven boards. Ouegnin totaled five assists, seven rebounds, and three steals. Fortune paced Cal with 17 points.
 
Mercyhurst shot 38.9 percent (21-54) from the field, but connected on 52.2 percent (12-23) in the second half. Cal shot 28.9 percent (13-45) on its attempts. The Lakers held a 37-35 edge in rebounding and turned the ball over a season-low five times.
 
The Lakers are 16-11 this season. They matched last season's win total with Saturday's victory. Mercyhurst has now won three postseason games in Coach Gary Manchel's tenure as head coach.