Pitt-Johnstown played a much more efficient second half, but it wasn't enough to complete a comeback in a 64-57 loss to Mercyhurst in the PSAC West opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

The Mountain Cats dropped to 5-8 (3-4 PSAC). The Lakers moved to 8-7 (4-3 PSAC).

Ryan Smith hit three 3-pointers and netted a team-high 13 points with three steals for Pitt-Johnstown. Andrew Shull also nailed three triples and added 12 points.

The difference in the first half was each team's shooting. Mercyhurst shot 51.8% in the first half, while Pitt-Johnstown was limited to just a 28.5% (6 for 21) mark.

Shull's first 3-pointer made it 12-6 less than five minutes into the game. Mercyhurst extended its lead to 24-16 on a layup from Luke Triggs with just 3:16 remaining in the half. The Lakers went into the break up 30-19.

Despite being in a double-digit hole for the majority of the second half, the Mountain Cats cut their deficit to seven with only 4:12 to play after Will Kromka's layup made it 57-50. Gavin Headings layup a little more than three minutes later trimmed it to 60-54, but a pair of free throws courtesy of Alexander Parks put the game out of reach.

The Lakers posted a 34-18 advantage in points in the paint and racked up 17 points off 13 Mountain Cat miscues.

Jeff Planitus drilled four 3-pointers and racked up a game-high 22 points for Mercyhurst, which held a 27-22 advantage in the rebounding department.

Pitt-Johnstown returns to the Sports Center when it hosts Clarion on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.