ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — Mercyhurst controlled the game from the start and defeated Binghamton 82-61 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers built a commanding 42-18 halftime lead, dominating inside with 46 points in the paint and converting 20 points off 15 Binghamton turnovers. Qadir Martin led Mercyhurst with 20 points and three blocks. The Bearcats’ Jeremiah Quigley scored a game-high 24 points, with 17 coming after halftime, but the early deficit proved insurmountable. Mercyhurst improved to 5-8, while Binghamton fell to 3-10.

ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — The Mercyhurst Lakers used a dominant first-half performance to build an insurmountable lead and cruised to an 82-61 victory over the Binghamton Bearcats in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers, improving to 5-8, seized control from the opening tip, exploiting Binghamton’s offensive struggles and defensive lapses to build a 42-18 halftime advantage. The Bearcats, who fell to 3-10, shot a frigid 17 for 42 from the floor for the game and committed 15 turnovers, which Mercyhurst converted into 20 points. The most important part of the game was the opening 20 minutes, where Mercyhurst established a tone of defensive pressure and offensive efficiency that Binghamton never answered. The Lakers forced 10 first-half turnovers, recorded eight steals, and held the Bearcats to just six made field goals before the break. Binghamton’s 18-point half was a season low, and the 24-point deficit proved too deep a hole to climb from, despite a more competitive second half where they outscored Mercyhurst 43-40. Mercyhurst’s Qadir Martin, a 6-foot-5 sophomore from Staten Island, New York, was a force on both ends, finishing with 20 points and three blocks. His interior presence helped the Lakers to a 46-26 advantage in points in the paint. Backcourt mate Kaden Fuhrmann, a 6-5 freshman from Liberty Township, Ohio, provided a major spark off the bench with 17 points, including three 3-pointers, all in the second half. Mykolaus Ivanauskas, a 6-8 freshman from Chicago, added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 50% from the field and dished out 13 assists. Christian Gamble orchestrated the offense with six assists and five points, while Bernie Blunt contributed 10 points. For Binghamton, guard Jeremiah Quigley shouldered the offensive load, scoring 24 points and adding four assists in 39 minutes. Wes Peterson, a 6-6 sophomore from Alexandria, Virginia, battled for 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds. No other Bearcat reached double figures, as the team managed only six assists against 15 turnovers. Mercyhurst’s defensive intensity was the story early. Leading just 6-4, the Lakers embarked on a 14-2 run over a five-minute span, fueled by steals and transition opportunities. A steal and layup by Deshaun Jackson pushed the lead to 20-6, forcing a Binghamton timeout. The Bearcats went scoreless for over four minutes during the stretch, a drought emblematic of their half. Binghamton showed more fight after halftime, with Quigley and Peterson attacking the rim to cut the deficit to 18 on several occasions. A Peterson dunk off a feed from Ryan Richardson brought the score to 62-48 with just over nine minutes remaining, but Fuhrmann answered immediately with a 3-pointer to halt the momentum. The Lakers’ lead never dipped below 17 points the rest of the way. The Lakers outperformed their pregame expectations as an 8.5-point favorite, easily covering the spread. The combined score of 143 points went under the betting total of 137.5. Binghamton, which has lost four straight and eight of its last nine, looks to regroup on the road at Army on Tuesday. Mercyhurst, which snapped a three-game skid, does not play again until hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 2.

ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — Two men’s NCAA Division I teams seeking momentum before the holiday break will meet Saturday when the Binghamton Bearcats visit the Mercyhurst Lakers at Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Both programs enter the non-conference finale looking to halt slides. Binghamton (3-9) has lost four straight, including a 103-63 road defeat at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Mercyhurst (4-8) has dropped five of its last six, most recently a 76-62 loss at Syracuse on Wednesday. The matchup features a pair of standout guards capable of carrying their offenses. Binghamton will rely on Demetrius Lilley, who is averaging 15.6 points over his last five games. He scored 13 points in 34 minutes against Pittsburgh. For Mercyhurst, Jake Lemelman is coming off a 23-point performance against Syracuse and has scored 21 or more points in two of his last four contests. The Bearcats’ struggles have been pronounced during their losing streak, with their last win coming in an 80-71 overtime victory against Lehigh on Dec. 2. Their defense has allowed an average of 84.8 points in the four consecutive losses. Mercyhurst has faced similar inconsistency but showed a potent offense in an 80-51 rout of Bethany on Dec. 7 and a 93-point season-opening win over Penn St.-New Kensington. However, scoring has been a challenge against high-major opponents, managing just 38 points at West Virginia on Nov. 30. Saturday’s game represents one of the final chances for each team to build confidence before league play intensifies in January. Binghamton opens America East Conference action at Vermont on Jan. 8, while Mercyhurst begins Northeast Conference play at home against Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 2. Historically, this is an uncommon meeting between the schools. The contest will tip off at 2 p.m. EST.