ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team dropped a 71-64 decision to Pittsburgh-Johnstown during Wednesday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

Malcolm Walters led the Lakers with 20 points while Lorenzo Collier put in 12. Dontae Williams had seven rebounds.

Josh Wise had 20 points to lead UPJ (15-11, 13-9). Isaac Vescovi put in 19 points while Olando King Jr. and Dale Clancy chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively. King added nine rebounds while Clancy grabbed eight rebounds and made six assists.

The visiting Mountain Cats came out shooting hot in the first half, going 18 of 30 in the game's opening period (60.0 percent).

That helped UPJ create a 21-point lead, which the Lakers cut into by halftime, when the Cats went into intermission ahead 41-27. The Lakers had closed the first on a 9-2 run.

The Lakers chipped away in the second half -- finally closing the deficit to three points at 65-62 on a Walters three-pointer with 2:15 to go. Unfortunately for Mercyhurst, that was its last field goal of the contest. The Mountain Cats held off the Lakers the rest of the way.

Mercyhurst finished 23 of 56 from the field (41.1 percent), including 10 of 24 from three-point range (41.7). However, the Lakers left points at the free-throw line, only making 8 of 15 (53.3).

UPJ held a 36-30 rebound edge.

The Lakers (12-13, 9-12) will return to action on Saturday with they visit Edinboro for a 3 p.m. PSAC contest.