SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.—The Mercyhurst men's basketball has its winning streak end on the road against Slippery Rock 83-74 on Wednesday night. Patrick Smith led the Lakers with a double-double recording 19 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the contest.Jason Massey was the only other scorer in double digits with 14 points on the night.
 
For Slippery Rock, five different players scored in double digits including team leader Nolen Gerald with 24 points.
 
Game Recap
 
In the first half, SRU quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead before a three pointer from Derrick Elllis Jr. cut the lead to only two. Then, just over the 15 minute mark of the first half after battling back and forth, Nicholas Lang hit a three pointer to give the Lakers its first lead of the night 12-10. On the Rock's next possession, Gerald came down and answered Lang's three with one of his own giving the lead back to SRU.

Smith would then answer his three but wouldn't sit on that for long as then John Warren ll would capitalize on a three of his own giving the lead back to SRU 16-15. The Lead would be changed one more time off of a Smith Layup for Mercyhurst (16-5, 11-5) before Slippery Rock (17-7, 14-3) would only allow the Lakers to tie the game at 29 all after a deep Trystan Pratapas three before holding onto the lead going into the half 43-40.
 
In the second, Mercyhurst would cut the lead to two with a layup from Edvaldo Ferreira before SRU would go on a 7-0 that started with a Jared Armstrong three pointer. Smith would end the run off of a layup cutting the Rock's lead back down to seven (54-47) with under 15 minutes to go in the game.

With just over 10 minutes to go in the game, SRU would go on another run (7-2) before seeing its largest lead of the game (16) with under five minutes to play. The Lakers couldn't bounce back from that big of a deficit only cutting the lead down to nine as Slippery Rock earns a big win at home 83-74.
 
Game Stats
On the night, MU shot 48 percent from the field while SRU shot 51.5 percent.  Mercyhurst went cold in the second behind the arc only making one of nine compared to shooting 53.85 percent (7-13) in the first half. The Rock outrebounded MU 37 to 30.
 
Playoff Implications
 
In order for MU to earn a first round bye, the Lakers can't lose another game in its five remaining and will need Slippery to lose three of its final four games. If Slippery Rock wins two of its last four games, then Mercyhurst will be pushed out of the first round bye and will hope for a first round home playoff game.In order for that to happen, the Lakers will need to win one of its final five games.
 
Next Up: The Lakers will host Seton Hill at home on Saturday January 16th