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ERIE, Pa. - Redshirt junior Christian Mortellite (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) scored a game-high 22 points to become the 29th player in school history to reach 1,000 points for his career but the Bloomsburg University men's basketball team could generate only 25 points in the second half as the Huskies dropped a 74-68 decision at Mercyhurst University on Saturday afternoon. Bloomsburg dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East. The Lakers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the PSAC West.

Mortellite had 18 of his 22 points in the first half as the Huskies built up a 43-37 lead at intermission. The Lakers' defense clamped down on him in the second half as he did not hit a field goal over the final twenty minutes. He finished the game shooting 4-of-12 from the field, 3-of-7 from long distance, and 11-of-12 from the foul line. He now has 1,002 career points - 29th on the school's all-time list.

Redshirt junior Karonn Davis (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central (Niagara Univ.)) added a season-high 20 points for the Huskies, who have now lost all three of their conference games by a total of nine points.

The game was close throughout the first half until Mercyhurst built its biggest lead of the half, 27-19, with 7:47 left in the opening twenty minutes. But, Mortellite got hot, scoring 16 points the rest of the half as the Huskies turned an eight-point deficit into a six-point lead, 43-37, at the break.

Mercyhurst quickly tied the game at 43-43 in the opening 1:50 of the second half by scoring the first six points - four from John Majors. Davis stopped the bleeding with a layup to regain a two-point lead, 45-43, with 16:50 left in regulation. The teams evenly split the next 12 points of the game and, after junior Carnell McGirt (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic (Valley Forge Military Academy))'s layup with 12:47 left, the Huskies still lead 51-49.

But, the Lakers went on a 9-0 run to take the lead for good, 58-51, with 9:45 left. Bloomsburg never trailed by more than seven the rest of the way but could only get as close as three points, 60-57, after Davis knocked down a jumper with 6:37 left in regulation.

It marked the fifth time in six games this season that Mortellite has scored at least 20 points in a game. Davis was efficient in his 20 points going 8-of-16 from the field while adding a game-high four steals.

Senior Donell Diggs (Washington, D.C./Takoma Academy (Prince George's CC)) added nine points while McGirt chipped in eight for the Huskies in a losing effort. McGirt also pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

After shooting 13-of-22 (59.1%) from the field in the first half, Bloomsburg went just 7-of-31 (22.6%) in the second half. The Huskies also went 0-for-10 from long distance in the second half after going 5-of-6 in the opening twenty minutes. Mercyhurst, meanwhile, was 28-of-56 (50.0%) from the field.

Durrell McDonald led four Lakers in double figures with 19 points.

The Huskies will look to regroup on Sunday afternoon when they visit Gannon University in another crossover showdown. Start time from the Hammermill Center is set for 3:00 p.m.