SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team suffered a 71-66 loss to Notre Dame (Ohio) in non-conference competition on Saturday.
The Lakers (6-3) battled back from a 16-point deficit -- eventually taking their first, and only, lead with 3:02 left -- but ultimately fell short after the host Falcons responded with a decisive 8-0 run.
Damon Jones was Mercyhurst's leading scorer with 14 points.
Gerrae Williams added 11 points,
Sean Beins contributed 10 points and nine rebounds, and
Andy Hoying hauled down eight rebounds.
Early in the second half, MU trailed 41-25 before Jones and
Kayode Ajenifuja put in four points apiece during an 8-0 Laker run, cutting the Lakers' deficit in half.
An eventual 9-1 stretch helped Mercyhurst pull even at 57-all with 6:10 to go. MU had to forge ties at 59- and 61-all before a three-pointer by Williams put the Lakers ahead, 64-63, which Notre Dame then responded to with its eight straight points.
Ryan Hickoff had 14 points to lead Notre Dame (6-3) while Will Vorhees put in 13 points and Ja'Sean Lewis hauled down 12 rebounds.
The Lakers (6-3) will return to action on Wednesday with an 8 p.m. PSAC contest at Slippery Rock.
