SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Mercyhurst men's basketball team fell to Le Moyne, 58-57, in a closely contested matchup on Thursday night at Ted Grant Court. The Lakers' defense recorded 11 steals, contributing to 16 points off turnovers.
Mercyhurst started strong in the first half, taking an early lead with
Mykolas Ivanauskas hitting a 3-pointer at 19:23, followed by a layup to make it 5-0. The team maintained defensive pressure, generating six steals and limiting turnovers to three, which helped sustain their momentum. Despite a back-and-forth battle, the Lakers capitalized on fast breaks, scoring eight points in transition.
The team extended its advantage with a balanced offensive effort, including
Christian Gamble's free throws and a fast-break 3-pointer by Bernie Blunt to go up 15-12. Mercyhurst closed the half on a strong note, with
Jake Lemelman converting two free throws. The Lakers led 29-25 at the end of the first half.
The Lakers opened the second half by briefly taking the lead but faced a strong response from the Dolphins. Despite a strong defensive effort with five steals, the Lakers struggled with shooting efficiency, converting 11 of 34 attempts. Blunt III contributed a notable performance with a series of key plays, including a 3-pointer and a layup, to keep the score close.
The half featured multiple lead changes, with Mercyhurst managing to tie the game at critical moments. Defensive rebounds and fast-break points played a crucial role, but the Dolphins maintained a slight edge in the paint. As the half concluded, the Lakers trailed by a narrow margin, closing the gap to 58-57 with a late 3-pointer from
Sean Lang. The half ended, 58-57, as the game remained tightly contested.
Blunt III led the Lakers with 14 points, hitting two 3-pointers and collecting four steals. Ivanauskas added 11 points and recorded two steals. Lemelman contributed 12 points, including two 3-pointers, and added three steals. Lang made an impact with two steals and scored five points.
Mercyhurst has a record of 12-14 overall and 7-6 in NEC play. Le Moyne holds a 13-13 overall record and is 8-5 in the NEC.
The Lakers will travel to SFU to face the Red Flash Saturday at 1:00p.m.
