Johnstown, Pa.—After finishing the first half tied, the No. 19/23 Mercyhurst Men's Basketball team played a better second half to defeat NR/RV Pitt-Johnstown 70-58 Wednesday night.
How it Happened
After UPJ controlled the first nine minutes, a layup from Aidan Reichert gave the Lakers their first lead of the game at 11:17. Nicholas Lang followed with a three-pointer for a five-point lead, and the Lakers controlled the next five minutes.
A three from Steve Cannady gave the Lakers a two-point lead at 1:57 before John Paul Kromka tied the game with a layup at 1:32. Nobody would score over the final 90 seconds, leaving the score at 30-30 at halftime.
The Mountain Cats kept things close to start the second half, but Mercyhurst's defense began to clamp down. Compared to 29 shots from the floor in the first half, UPJ mustered just 19 in the second half as the Lakers out-rebounded them and posted eight steals.
Mercyhurst was holding a modest lead until they went on an eight-point mini run that saw threes from MiyKah McIntosh and Lang to take a 56-45 lead at 5:50.
They continued to answer whenever the Mountain Cats scored, and made all six of their free-throws down the stretch to hold onto the lead.
By the Numbers
The Lakers, second in Division II with an average turnover margin just over 8, forced the Mountain Cats to turn over the ball 21 times while giving it up just seven times themselves, for a margin of 14. Mercyhurst turned those 21 turnovers into 19 points to help their cause.
McIntosh and Kromka led all scorers with 19 points apiece. Lang was next on the Lakers with 15 points, followed by Michael Bradley and his 14 points.
Up Next
Mercyhurst returns home Saturday to do battle with Erie County rival Edinboro University at 7:30 p.m. That game will be featured locally on the CW Network.
