Jan. 17, 2008

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - The Mercyhurst men's basketball team trailed No. 2 Grand Valley State by just four points with 17:28 remaining in the game. Grand Valley, however, went on an 18-5 run in the next six minutes to remain unbeaten on the season and squash Mercyhurst's hopes of an upset by a final score of 67-48.

Grand Valley State improved to a perfect 19-0 on the season and 7-0 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play. Grand Valley entered the game as the nation's No. 1-ranked scoring defense and it lived up to its ranking, holding Mercyhurst (8-9, 2-5 GLIAC) to fewer than 50 points for the second consecutive game.

For Mercyhurst, it was its second-straight loss and fourth in the last five. The Lakers managed just 31 percent shooting against the vaunted Grand Valley defense, converting just 18-of-58 field goals and 6-of-18 from 3-point range.

Despite the lack of offensive punch, the Lakers stayed close using their own defensive pressure. The Lakers took an 8-7 lead on a Terry Smith 3-pointer four minute into the game, but a quick answer by Callistus Eziukwu, who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds, put the Lakers behind for good.

Mercyhurst trailed by no more than 11 points in the first half and even cut the lead to six with 27 seconds remaining on two free throws by Brian McTear. Eziukwu, however, answered again to put the Lakers behind 29-21 at the break.

In the second period, the two teams traded buckets until Smith cut the lead to 32-28 on a jumper. But Grand Valley's offense started to click, as it converted four-straight possession to build the lead to 13.

After Smith's bucket at the 17:28 mark, Mercyhurst missed its next six shots and committed three turnovers before Milos Bogetic hit a 3-pointer at 11:15. By that time, Grand Valley had build a 50-34 advantage.

McTear led the Lakers with 12 points. Terry Smith chipped in nine points and seven rebounds, but failed to hit double figure scoring for the first time since Nov. 25; a stretch of 11 games.

Eziukwu paced Grand Valley with 2 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Pete Trammell added 10 points and five assists. As a team, Grand Valley hit 45.3 percent from the field but shot a dismal 14-of-32 from the free throw stripe.

Mercyhurst looks to snap its skid on Saturday at Ferris State. Game time is schedule for 3 p.m., and it will be broadcast online via the B2 Networks.