Johnstown, Pa.—The Mercyhurst men's basketball team lost its final road game, 71-58, Wednesday night at Pitt-Johnstown.
 
Patrick Smith led the Lakers recording a double-double scoring 15 points and 17 rebounds. Nelson Maxwell was the other Laker scoring in double figures with 10 points on the night.

For UPJ, Josh Wise recorded 31 points with the Mountain Cat's next leading scorer, John Paul Kromka recording 16.

Just over the midway point of the first half, Jason Massey hit a jumper to bring the Lakers back to within two, 13-11.  UPJ would respond to the bucket going on a 7-0 run making the score 20-11 with 11:45 to go in the half before Edvaldo Ferreira would score ending the run. UPJ would respond going on a 15-5 run before Ferreira and Smith both tacked on a layup each followed by a Maxwell three to give the Lakers a 7-0 run heading into the half down, 37-24.

Mercyhurst (19-6, 14-6) would continue the run cutting the lead to eight opening the second half. UPJ would scrap the lead and push it back up to double digits before two free throws and a layup by Derrick Ellis Jr. would cut the deficit to only seven. At the 11:04 mark of the second half, Zack McIntire would burry a three pointer cutting the lead now to only one. The next points of the game would come from Smith making both free throws and giving the Lakers the lead for the first time since the start of the game. 

MU would hold onto the lead until a made layup by Orlando King Jr. giving Pitt-Johnstown (16-12, 11-10) the lead again 54-53. From that point on, the Mountain Cats wouldn't look back and would extend the lead to 13 and take the game, 71-58. UPJ would end the season with a home record of 12-1 with the only loss coming from IUP.
 
UPJ outshot MU 60 to 31.9 percent from the field.  The Mountain Cats also scored 16 points off turnovers compared to the Lakers 15. MU outrebounded UPJ 45-29 on the night.
 
The loss tonight for the Lakers will not change its seeding as they will remain in third and host a home playoff game on Monday, March 4th. 
 
Next Up: The Lakers will host Edinboro for Senior Night in its final regular season home game on Saturday March 2nd.  To purchase tickets online, Click Here.