ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst men's basketball team defeated Edinboro, 61-53, Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division play.
Gerrae Williams led the Lakers in scoring with 13, as he was the only player to finish in double figures. The win ends a two game skid and improves their overall record to 16-7 and 13-5 PSAC. With the loss, Edinboro falls to an even 11-11 overall, 8-10 PSAC.
Both teams struggled shooting the basketball in first half, each shooting 21% from the floor. Again, it would be another slow start for Mercyhurst, as they were unable to record a field goal until the 15:49 mark. The Fighting Scots would open the game on a 7-0 run, before Terrance Ingram finished a beautiful layup inside while getting fouled. After finishing off the and-one, Mercyhurst would begin to pick up the pace. It wasn't until the 8:43 mark in the first half when the Lakers took their first lead of the game, 14-13. Mercyhurst would get three consecutive baskets to take the one point advantage, beginning with a
Damon Jones Layup.
Andy Hoying would follow with a layup of his own, as Williams converted a jumper to take the lead.
Sean Beins would keep the rally going, finishing a layup inside, as Jones converted one of two from the line, to give Mercyhurst its largest lead of the afternoon, 17-13. With 2:47 remaining in the half, Edinboro's Jaymon Mason made a three to pull back within one. The Fighting Scots would regain the lead with 50 seconds to play off a Sheldon Brogdon layup that would give them the advantage going into the break, 18-17.
The 17 Mercyhurst halftime points is the second lowest output in a half by the Lakers this season. They would only score 16 in the first half earlier this year at Kutztown on January 4. Of the 17 points, 10 came within the paint and seven points came off of nine Edinboro turnovers. The Lakers went 0-7 from behind the arc and 6-28 from the field in the first half. Edinboro finished 2-12 from downtown and 7-32 from the field.
The game would pick up in the second, as Mercyhurst would outscore the Fighting Scots, 44-35, in the half.
James Ewing would score the first five points of the half, as he finished off a layup inside and then, drained his second career three-pointer to open up a four lead, 22-18. Edinboro's leading scorer, Henri Wade-Chatman, answered the Ewing three with one of his own, to cut the lead back to one.
With the game tied at 27, Mercyhurst would go on a 12-2 run, opening up their first double digit lead, 39-29, with 10:11 to play. The Lakers would lead by as many as 12 in the second half. Down the stretch, Mercyhurst made nine of 10 free-throws to ice the victory.
The Lakers went 25-30 (83.3%) from the charity stripe and 20-22 in the second half. The 25 made free-throws is the second highest output by the team this season. As a team, Mercyhurst finished 34.0% (17-50) from the field and held Edinboro to just 32.8% (19-58).
With the win, Mercyhurst has now won at least 10 home games five out of the last six seasons.Mercyhurst will take the floor again on Wednesday at home against #18 Indiana (Pa.). Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the MAC.
