Erie, Pa.- Mercyhurst continued to defend their home court on Saturday afternoon when they grabbed their fourth straight home win. The Lakers took down Le Moyne 82-78 to earn their seventh conference win of the season.
 
How it Happened:
After a disappointing loss on Thursday night in Chicago, the Lakers came out looking to make up for it. Senior Aidan Reichert got the ball rolling for Mercyhurst quickly, something he's done all season. He knocked down his first three shots to help them grab a 10-3 lead. But Robby Carmody was looking to keep the Dolphins in the game as he knocked down a pair of three pointers in the early stages. The second of which closed the gap to just three points. Just a few minutes later, Le Moyne snagged their first lead of the day after an AJ Dancler jumper made the score 19-18. But Reichert put Mercyhurst back on top exactly two minutes after Dancler's field goal. To close out the first 20 minutes of action, the Lakers were able to go on a 10-3 run that spanned two and half minutes and let them walk into the break with a 37-28 lead.
 
The second half was kicked off with the teams trading three pointers. Max Jusianiec's three point shot gave the Lakers their largest lead of the day as they went up by 11. Dancler remained hot from beyond the arc as well though. Over the Dolphins next two possessions, he dropped a pair of his own. But a pair of baskets from Reichert helped keep them at an arm's length. As the ten minute mark was hit in the second period, the Lakers held onto their ten point lead. It wasn't until five minute mark that the Dolphins would make one final push. An 8-2 run put them back within four points of the Lakers, and just a minute after the run ended Darrick Jones Jr. hit a clutch three point shot to tie the game at 74. With 14 seconds remaining, Planutis would get free to seal the game with a clutch layup that would help Mercyhurst walk away with the 82-78 win.
 
Highlights:
The Lakers grabbed their sixth win in their last eight games and their stars continued to shine. Planutis dropped a season-high 28 points and hit the clutch layup to seal the Lakers win. Reichert also had himself a day as he recorded 24 points. Mercyhurst hit on 48% of their shots and they were perfect from the charity stripe as they picked up a season split with Le Moyne.
 
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