Box Score Erie, Pa.- Mercyhurst hung on for an 85-80 over LIU in a double overtime thriller. The Lakers got revenge against the Sharks, who beat them in overtime a week ago. Mercyhurst is now 4-4 in NEC play as they enter the final stretch of the 2024-2025 season.


 
How it Happened:
The Sharks came out hot as they looked to make up for their first loss in 2025. The Sharks, who had their six-game winning streak snapped, opened the game on a 9-2 run. The Lakers didn't knock down their first jumper until three minutes into the game. Mercyhurst didn't hit another field goal until five minutes later. But lucky for them, LIU also had some trouble on offensive end. An Aidan Reichert jumper brought the game to 15-10, but Brent Davis immediately hit a three pointer on the other end. That shot kicked off another 9-2 run, but the Lakers answered with a 17-2 run of their own to close the half and walk into the break with a three point lead.
 
In the second half, Mercyhurst would continue to fight off the Sharks as they tried to claw back into the game. A 10-3 run looked to have the game well in hand for the Lakers, but eight unanswered points for LIU brought to score to 49-48. The Sharks continued to stay in the game and a Jalen Lee three pointer brought the game back within one. But Mercyhurst wouldn't let them take the lead. Reichert got the lead back up to five with three minutes remaining, but the Sharks fight kept them in the game. With 30 seconds remaining, the Lakers had a four-point lead, but a Blake Lander layup followed by a missed free throw from Planutis gave way for Tre'shawn Sheppard to nail a game-tying jumper with three seconds left.


 
Overtime featured both teams continuing to go back and forth. All but two points came from free throws for both sides as both teams fouling on each end. With just minute to go, the Lakers tied the game at 74 off of two Shemar Rathan-Mayes free throws. It would stay that way until Rathan-Mayes grabbed the first score of the second overtime. The Sharks quickly tied things up at 77, but the theme of the overtime period remained scoring via free throws. But the dagger turned out to be Planutis jumper with just eight seconds left to secure an 85-80 win.
 
Highlights:
Bernie Blunt III led the way for Mercyhurst as he dropped a season-high 27 points. He was perfect from the free throw line as he knocked down all eight of his attempts. Planutis added 23 and Reichert 16. The win got Mercyhurst back to .500 in conference play as they improved to 7-2 at home. The Lakers hit all but two free throws in the double overtime thriller.
 
Next Game:
The Lakers will close out their three-game homestand on Thursday when they welcome Saint Francis to Erie. The action will kick off at 7:00 p.m. and can all be caught on the NEC Front Row.