Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst Men's Basketball remains unbeaten in midweek matchups this season as they take care of business against the Mountain Cats Wednesday night. The Lakers got off to a fast start and never looked back from there on their way to advancing to the PSAC semifinals in the 86-57 win.

How it Happened

First Half

Mercyhurst was able to get out to a lead in the early going. They scored the opening four points of the game and didn't look back from there. Their work inside the arc proved big as the first six Lakers makes were all two-point shots, helping Mercyhurst take a 12-8 lead.

Coach Manchel's crew continued to look inside as it helped them take their first double-digit lead of the game as Nicholas Lang knifed into the lane for the easy two, making it 19-8.

Mercyhurst began to control the game on both sides of the ball as their advantage continually grew down the stretch of the first frame. The team's all-around control was evident after a Pipeloluwa Ajayi block turned into a Michael Bradley three as the Lakers held a 16-point lead with just under eight minutes in the canto.

From that point on, the Laker's lead stuck around 15 for the remainder of the half with the team taking a 43-28 lead into the halftime break. 

Second Half

The Lakers did not slow down to open up the second half as they began with an 11-4 run. None were bigger than the two from Jeff Planutis who got the steal and threw it down the other way.

At the end of the hot play, Mercyhurst found themselves ahead 54-32 with 15:42 to go in the game.

The Lakers showed themselves to be the better team on both sides of the ball as the second half continued to wind down. Their defense smothered UPJ and forced tough looks from deep while the offense was as efficient as could be. It was Mercyhurst's work from in close that helped them see their balloon to as high as 32.

From that point on, the Lakers cruised to the win as they defeat the Mountain Cats in the PSAC Tournament for the third consecutive season in the 86-57 final.

Highlights

MiyKah McIntosh led the team in scoring with 18 points with him scoring 14 of those in the opening frame. The graduate guard was ultra-efficient as he finished 7-10 from the floor and 3-4 from deep while adding five rebounds to his line. Nicholas Lang was right behind McIntosh with 17 points to go along with 14 rebounds, the most of his career, and four assists. Michael Bradley and Pipeloluwa Ajayi both factored into the offense as they both finished with 14 points with a combined 11-20 line from the floor.

Next Game

Mercyhurst moves on to the PSAC semifinals with the team set to see Shippensburg next. The Lakers hit the road for that contest with them set to clash with the Raiders on Saturday, March 4th.