INDIANA, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's basketball team was victimized by the opposition's free throws as the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks picked up 16 more points at the charity stripe en route to downing Mercyhurst by a final of 71-56 at the Kovalchick Athletic Complex in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division action.  

It only took 34-seconds for the guests to get on the board when Cameron Gross stuck a three-pointer at the top of the key.  Buckets from Michael Bradley and MiyKah McIntosh kept the Lakers in front by three at 5-2 as well as 7-4, however, a 7-0 charge from the Crimson Hawks thanks to Chucky Humphries, Armoni Foster, and Shawndale Jones put IUP in front 11-7 at the five minute mark.  Neither side hit another shot from the field until 9:26 had elapsed when Dave Morris stuck a corner triple.  Andrew Seager netted two in the paint on the next trip down the floor to make it 19-12.  The Crimson Hawks picked up five of the next seven points with Shawn Ulrich and Jones doing the damage, as Gross picked up the only Lakers basket in that stretch to push the advantage to double-digits 24-14 with 7:47 to go in half one.  A converted "and one" by Pratapas cut the deficit to single figures 29-20, unfortunately, Humphries hit on his own foul shot after a made layup coupled with a pair at the stripe from Malik Miller handed the hosts their largest lead of the game 34-20 at the under four media timeout.  Triples out of the hands of Gross and McIntosh helped Mercyhurst close to within 36-28 with 90-seconds remaining, but a perfectly executed inbounds play 10-seconds to go resulting in an Ethan Porterfield layup gave the Hawks a ten-point cushion at the break 38-28.  

A layup by Foster and free throw for Miller extended the hosts lead to 41-28 to begin the second half.  It would take 2:31 before Mercyhurst hit the scoreboard when Bradley drove hard to the rim and finished.  The Lakers would cut it to within 11 at 46-35, at the 5:36 mark, but the Hawks came soaring back with an 8-0 flight thanks to buckets from Miller, Foster, Jones, and Porterfield to grab a large 54-35 advantage.  Coming out of the under 12-minute media timeout the Lakers looked to have found a spark as layups from Gross and Lang aided by triples by Bradley and Pratapas brought the guests back to under 10 at 55-48 still with 8:35 remaining.  However, back came the number nine team in the nation as Humphries, Jones, and Foster put together a 7-0 charge and opened the lead to 61-48 with under eight to go.  Two minutes later McIntosh would hit on a floater in the lane to close the gap to 61-52, unfortunately Porterfield and Jones each picked up three points allowing IUP to reclaim a 67-54 cushion with a minute to go.  Mercyhurst would get no closer as the home side closed out the 71-56 win.  

The game was won at the foul line as IUP went 22-31 to the Lakers 6-7.  The Hawks also held an edge from the field shooting 43.1%, while Mercyhurst went 40%.  They also pulled down 41 rebounds to the visitors 26.  

Mercyhurst was led by McIntosh who picked up 13 with Gross adding 10.  Pratapas and McIntire off the bench chipped in 9 and 8 respectively.  Gross was the leading rebounder with seven.  

IUP had four guys in double-digits as Foster (18), Jones (14), Porterfield (13), and Miller (12) hit those marks.  Humphries had 11 boards to lead all sides.  

The Lakers return to action on Wednesday, January 8 when they visit Clarion at 7:30 pm.