SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Durrell McDonald scored 28 points as the Mercyhurst men's basketball team earned an 81-72 victory against Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action on Wednesday.

McDonald was 8 of 13, including 2 of 3 from three-point territory, and 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. Dajuan Dent added 12 points and Kordell Holness-Lightbody put in 11 for the Lakers (10-11, 8-9), who moved past SRU (12-12, 8-10) and into third place in the PSAC West Division standings.

Naquil Jones was The Rock's leading scorer with 23 points while Merdic Green chipped in with 21 points and eight rebounds. Christal Malalu had 10 points and nine rebounds.

The Lakers broke a 30-30 tie late in the first half, scoring 11 consecutive points to close out the period. Holness-Lightbody hit a three-pointer and John Majors sank two free throws before six consecutive points from McDonald finished the run.

Mercyhurst widened its lead to 17 points before Slippery Rock answered with a 16-2 run to close the deficit to three. An eventual 12-4 run by the Lakers -- capped by a layup and three-pointer by Malcolm Walters -- allowed Mercyhurst to push its lead to 70-60. The visitors held off the host Rock from there.

The Lakers finished 23 of 52 from the field (44.2 percent), 7 of 17 from three-point land (41.2) and 28 of 36 from the free-throw line (77.8) while SRU was 23 of 64 (35.9), 4 of 17 (23.5) and 22 of 26 (84.6), respectively.

Mercyhurst will return to action on Saturday with a 3 p.m. PSAC matchup at Pittsburgh-Johnstown.