Box Score Despite trailing early 5-3 within the first three minutes of the game, Mercyhurst University men's basketball team was firing from all cylinders from start to finish and defeated Pitt-Johnstown 89-37 in PSAC West Division competition Saturday afternoon in the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center.
 
Kayode Ajenifuja recorded a game-high 17 points for Mercyhurst, who advanced to 11-4 overall, and 8-3 in conference play. He also added seven rebounds and was one of four Lakers who scored in double-digits.
 
The Mountain Cats scored less than 20 points each half (18 in the first and 19 in the second), while the Lakers scored over 40 points in each half (40 in the first and 49 in the second).
 
While the Lakers shot for 69% (34-for-49) from the field and 62% (13-21) from three-point range, the Mountain Cats went just 25.5% (13-for-51) from the field and 5.9% (1-for-17) in three-point territory, including going 0-for-10 in the second half from beyond the arc.
 
With the loss, Pitt-Johnstown fell to 9-5 overall, 6-4 in conference play. Leahey led the team with eight points, not one Mountain Cat was able to produce more than 10 points.
 
It wasn't until the 8:40 first half mark that the Lakers took control of the game when Gerrae Williams drained a three-pointer to cap off an 11-0 run and to give Mercyhurst a 24-12 lead.
 
After Dale Clancy made a free throw for Pitt-Johnstown with 8:14 left in the half to make the score 24-13, the Lakers closed out the half with a 16-6 run that gave them a 40-19 halftime lead.
 
Mercyhurst did not let up in the second half as they started things off a 12-0 run that was capped off by a layup inside the paint by Ajenifuja that put the Lakers ahead 52-19 with 16:21 remaining
 
The Lakers had two more runs of 11-0 and 8-0 in the game's last 15 minutes and the team's biggest lead of the game came at the 5:12 second half mark when Dwight Whitlock hit a jumper to give his team an 87-32, 55-point lead.
 
The Mountain Cats are to finish their three-game homestand against Indiana University (Pa.) Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in a doubleheader with the Lady Cats. The team is to next travel to Edinboro University Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. with another doubleheader with the Lady Cats.