AMHERST, N.Y. -- Lorenzo Collier led Mercyhurst with 21 points as the Laker men's basketball team defeated Daemen, 69-55, in its non-conference season opener on Tuesday.

Malcolm Walters added 13 points while leading rebounder Dontae Williams hauled down seven boards for the Lakers (1-0).

Mercyhurst trailed 29-25 through the first half before outscoring its host Wildcats, 44-26, in the second.

The Lakers broke a 37-all tie when Collier buried a pair of three-pointers. A layup by Nelson Maxwell stretched the Laker run to 8-0 as Mercyhurst built a 45-37 lead with 13:41 remaining.

Daemen (2-1) closed its deficit to three points before Mercyhurst went on a decisive 13-3 stretch to push its lead to 62-49. Walters and Williams had five points apiece during that run while Collier added a trey.

The Lakers finished 27 of 53 from the field (50.9 percent) while Daemen was 20 of 53 (37.7). Mercyhurst held a 40-25 advantage on the boards.

The Lakers will return to action with a pair of home Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contest this weekend when Cheyney and Millersville visit the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.