Ivan Juric logged a double-double Thursday night and Penn State clamped down on Mercyhurst’s slow-paced offense in the second half for a 72-57 nonconference win at University Park, Pa.
Juric scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for the Nittany Lions (3-1), helping them earn a 39-33 advantage on the glass. Roko Prkacin added 14 points, while Brant Byers also contributed 14, going 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
Jake Lemelman scored a team-high 20 points and dished out six assists for the Lakers (1-3) but went only 7-for-22 from the field. Cameron Johnson added 12 points and Hunter Te Ratana came off the bench to net 10.
Penn State led most of the game but couldn’t build a real separation until the last two minutes, as Mercyhurst kept possessions down. Lemelman sank a 3-pointer at the 2:49 mark to make it 63-57.
However, the Nittany Lions rattled off the last nine points by pounding the ball inside. Juric and Byers connected on layups, with Juric adding a foul shot and another layup to seal the outcome.
Penn State finished at 51% from the field, while Mercyhurst converted only 20 of 60 attempts from the floor. The Nittany Lions enjoyed a 36-20 advantage in paint points.
Penn State coach Mike Rhoades hoped to see better decision-making and fewer poor shots after Sunday’s 82-76 loss to Pittsburgh, which saw the team commit 16 turnovers.
The Nittany Lions used good defense to establish a working margin in the first 15 minutes. A 12-2 run gave them a 24-11 cushion at the 5:32 mark when Josh Reed converted a layup.
However, the Lakers rallied late in the half. A 10-2 run cut the deficit to 26-21 on a 3-pointer from Geoff Sprouse. Lemelman then drilled one of his three 3-pointers with 29 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 33-29 at the break.