CALIFORNIA, Pa. - For the third consecutive game the Mercyhurst men's basketball team shot below 40% from the field posting a season-low 27.3% and a 4.2% (1-24) from beyond the arc as the host California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans ran past the Lakers 69-51 on Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action.
Luke House and Brent Pegram staked the hosts to an early 5-0 lead, which they extended out to 10-4 when Zyan Collins hit a jumper with 13:15 to play.
MiyKah McIntosh netted the next three points to trim the gap to 10-7, however, Jermaine Hall Jr., Pegram, and Collins sent the Vulcans on a 13-4 run to stretc the advantage out to double-digits 23-11 at the 14:37 mark.
Joel Ufele hit a layup making it 23-13, but once again the host had an answer closing the opening 20-minutes with a 15-4 charge to hold a 38-17 lead at the half. In the opening frame Mercyhurst went 6-29 from field and did hit a three-pointer going 0-15.
Tim Smith Jr. and Collins scored four of the opening six points in the second period with McIntosh providing the only Lakers offense. Mercyhurst tried to work themselves back into the contest as
Michael Bradley and
Cameron Gross put together a 7-2 stretch to cut the deficit to 44-26 just five minutes in. Cal made it 47-26 on a converted "and one" by Collins, but
Zach McIntire tried to single-handedly bring the visitors back scoring seven points during an 11-0 Lakers romp trimming it to just 47-37. Unfortunately, Mercyhurst would get no closer as foul shots from Gross, Bradley, and McIntire brought it to 64-51 with 2:15 remaining, but Smith, Collins, and Pegram all scored late to secure the 69-51 win.
The Lakers were good on the foul line going 20-25 for 80%, while Cal went 9-15 (60%). Mercyhurst held a 10-6 edge in bench scoring and also led in the paint 26-24.
McIntosh, McIntire, and Gross all had 11 points and combined for 15 rebounds, two steals, and an assist. Ufele hit double-figures as well netting 10 and matching McIntire with a team-high six rebounds.
Pegram paced the Vulcans with 23 points, followed by Collins (18) and Smith Jr. (12). Hall Jr. pulled down a game-high ten rebounds.
Mercyhurst will look to snap their skid and get back on the winning track on Wednesday, January 29th when they host local foe Edinboro at 7:30 pm.
