Boxscore

INDIANA , Pa. – The Mercyhurst College men's basketball team was unable to hold off a hot start from No. 11 Indiana (Pa.), falling 70-53 Saturday, Feb. 13 at Memorial Field House. The Crimson Hawks built a 36-19 lead by halftime, and the 17-point difference held as the final margin despite three Lakers scoring in double-figures.

With the setback, the Lakers second in a row, Mercyhurst is now 15-8, 5-5 and in fourth place in the PSAC West. IUP remains atop divisional standings at 8-1, also holding a 19-2 overall record.

Heiden Ratner and Nnamdi Nnadili led the Lakers with 11 points apiece, with Ratner making three triples and Nnadili going deep twice. Christian Cornelius hit double-figures with 10, and tied with Ratner for the team high with six rebounds.

IUP's Akida McLain held high scoring honors with a season-high 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Julian Sanders added 18 points, and Darryl Webb totaled 14 markers.

For the game, the Lakers shot 40.7 percent from the field, and went 5-for-22 (22.7) from beyond the arc. Mercyhurst made 4-of-8 foul shots. Indiana (Pa.) hit for 50.9 percent on field goals and connected for six triples at 42.9 percent, going 10-for-14 from the foul line. IUP held a 36-28 advantage on the glass, while each team committed 20 turnovers on the evening. 

The Lakers started slow as IUP built a comfortable 18-4 advantage midway through the first but were able to chip away and cut the lead to single digits with an 8-3 run that culminated at 7:14 with Ryann Bradford's second consecutive basket.

However, the Crimson Hawks slowly rebuilt their lead and head into intermission ahead 36-19.

In the second half, Mercyhurst was able to find its hand shooting, knocking down 13-of-30 baskets, including four 3-pointers.  

The Lakers are next in action on Wednesday, February 17 when they host Clarion at 7:30 p.m.  The Golden Eagles edged Mercyhurst 77-75 at Clarion earlier this season.