BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A strong second-half surge was not enough for the Mercyhurst men's basketball team as they fell 60-58 against LIU. The Lakers (6-10, 1-2 NEC) narrowed a 13-point halftime deficit, outscoring LIU (9-7, 3-0 NEC) 32-21 in the final half. Mercyhurst's defense contributed eight steals, but LIU's final bucket with 12 seconds left ultimately secured their victory in the NEC matchup.

The first-half proved to be a slow start for the Lakers who didn't find their first points until sophmore Qadir Martin made his first of the game at 15:20. Martin then made two free throws, narrowing the gap to 13–4 at 14:55. Defensive plays, including a steal by Christian Gamble, helped the Lakers cut the deficit to 19–12 following a layup by Deshaun Jackson Jr.

Midway through the half, the Lakers capitalized on turnovers, with Jake Lemelman scoring a layup and a jumper, pulling the team within 27–20. However, LIU maintained the lead with effective fast breaks and free throws, closing the half with a 39–26 advantage after converting crucial free throws at the buzzer.

The Lakers opened the second half with a momentum shift, sparked by Lemelman's three-pointer, cutting LIU's lead. The Green and Blue scored 15 straight unanswered points in the first five minutes of the half. Mykolas Ivanauskas, Lemelman, and Bernie Blunt III contributed to the scoring run that leveled the game at 39-39 by 16:21.

Mercyhurst maintained their offensive rhythm, with Martin's dunk and consecutive free throws from Jackson Jr. pushing them ahead. Despite a back-and-forth exchange, the Green and Blue held a narrow lead into the final minutes. The score stayed tied at 58 points until LIU scored with 12 seconds remaining, securing the Sharks a narrow 60-58 win at the Steinberg Wellness Center.

Lemelman led Mercyhurst with a team high 19 points, converting 8 of 15 field goals, including three 3-pointers. Ivanauskas played a large role on the court, collecting 11 rebounds and adding six points. Martin posted 10 points, six rebounds and blocked two shots. Blunt contributed with nine points and four rebounds, while also dishing out three assists.

The Lakers hold a record of 6-10 overall and 1-2 in NEC play. LIU stands at 9-7 overall and remains undefeated in conference action with a 3-0 record. 

The Lakers will continue their weekend on the road Saturday at 1:00 p.m. as they face Wagner.