ERIE, Pa. --
Derrick Ellis Jr. and
Trystan Pratapas scored 16 points apiece as five Mercyhurst players scored in double-figures in the Laker men's basketball team's 89-61 victory over PSAC opponent California (Pa.) on Wednesday at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
Jason Massey added 13 points,
MiyKah McIntosh had 12 points and
Nicholas Lang put in 11 for the Lakers (18-5, 13-5). Ellis also had nine assits sand four stealas while leading rebounder
Patrick Smith grabbed 11 boards.
Brent Pegram led Cal with 19 points and Zyan Collins contributed 18. Collin MacAdams finished with a double-double worth 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Mercyhurst scored the game's first five points and led the rest of the way. It held a 15-4 advantage, getting five points from Ellis during that stretch, before the visiting Vulcans closed the gap to three points later in the first half.
The Lakers closed the opening period on a 21-4 run. Pratapas had eight points and
Malik Jones buried a pair of 3-pointers during the run, which left MU with a 47-26 halftime lead.
The host Lakers held a comfortable lead through the second half, widening the gap to as many as 29 points.
Mercyhurst outrebounded Cal, 44-32, an shot 49.3 percent from the field (36 of 73) while Cal was 39.0 percent from the field (23 of 59).
With the win, the Lakers cannot finish any lower than third place in the PSAC West Division. If MU places third, it would host a PSAC Tournament game on Monday, Mar. 4.
Mercyhurst will be in action next when it visits cross-town rival Gannon on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
