Mercyhurst defeats Wagner 69-70

Mercyhurst Edges Wagner in Thrilling 70-69 Victory

In a back-and-forth contest that had fans on the edge of their seats, Mercyhurst (AWAY) outlasted Wagner (HOME) 70-69 at Spiro Sports Center on Monday night.

The game was a true thriller, with both teams trading leads and neither able to pull away. At halftime, the score was tied at 32-32, setting the stage for an intense second half. Mercyhurst's offense found its footing in the final 20 minutes, outscoring Wagner by seven points to secure the one-point victory.

Bernie Blunt III led Mercyhurst on the offensive end with 23 points, including 50.0% shooting from the field. Christian Gamble added five assists and a steal, while Sean Lang contributed eight rebounds in the win.

For Wagner, Nick Jones was the standout performer, pouring in 20 points on 5-9 three-point shooting (35.0% FG). Bryan Akanmu grabbed seven rebounds and had eight points of his own, while Jaden Baker chipped in with six assists.

The game was marked by a number of key moments that separated the two teams. Wagner's largest lead came at one point, when they held a 7-point advantage. However, Mercyhurst fought back, using a strong defensive effort to limit Wagner's offense and stay within striking distance.

In the end, it was Mercyhurst's ability to score in transition that proved decisive. The visiting team outscored Wagner by 12 points on fast break points (4-5) and 14 points off turnovers (17-3).

Advanced statistics painted a similar picture. Mercyhurst shot 54.1% from the field and 60.1% from true shooting, while Wagner struggled with efficiency at 42.0% from the field and 52.2% in true shooting.

The win marked an important conference victory for Mercyhurst, who now moves on to face a tough stretch of schedule.