Box Score (ERIE, Pa.)  Seniors Jay Gavin and Darren Clark combine for 48 points and Bowie State hits 31-of-34 free throws to edge Mercyhurst 94-93 in the opening game of the Mercyhurst Invitational.

Mercyhurst began the game on a 9-2 run mainly on the scoring of Matt Lee.  Lee scored seven of the nine.  Sophomore Trawn Rogers made one of two free throws to pull Bowie State within one at 9-8.  Clark converted two free throws at 13:04 mark to give the visitors their first lead of the game.

The lead would change hands 10 times in the first period but a Lakers steal and subsequent layup with 1.3 seconds left in the half, sent Mercyhurst into halftime with a 37-35 lead over 20th Bowie State.

Mercyhurst shot 56 percent (15-of-27) from the field in the first half while Bowie State ended the first stanza at 39 percent (12-of-31).  The Lakers knocked down 5-of-9 first period three pointers compared to 1-of-5 for the Bulldogs.  Free throws balanced BSU's fair first half shooting as the Bulldogs converted 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.

Just like the first half, Mercyhurst opened the second half with run, this time 10-0.  Junior Najee White stopped the run with a conventional three point play at the 18:12 mark.  Gavin scored the next five points and senior Travis Hyman added a breakaway dunk to cut the Bulldogs deficit to 47-45 forcing the home team to call a timeout.

The Mercyhurst lead grew to game-high 14 points 77-63 forcing Bowie State to burn a timeout.  A 3-pointer by junior Dameatric Scott pulled Bowie State within two at 84-82 with 2:38 left in regulation. 

Gavin made one of two free throws following a technical foul on the Mercyhurst bench and Clark knocked down a pair of free throws to give Bowie State its first lead since 35-33 at the 50 seconds left in the first half.  Scott followed that with his second 3-pointer of the game, giving the Bulldogs an 88-84 advantage and BSU held on the rest of the way.

Gavin tied his career-high of 26 points, knocking down 13-of-14 free throws, 6-of-11 field goals and tied for team-high rebound honors with six to lead Bowie State.  Clark added 22 points and senior Travis Hyman contributed a dozen points.  White and Scott rounded out Bowie State's double figure scorers with 11 and 10 points respectively.  White was BSU's other top rebounder with six.

Lee paced the Mercyhurst Lakers with 28 points and Luis Leao along with Andrew Rickard contributed 22 and 16 points respectively.  Lee and Rickard hit five 3-pointers each.

As a team, Mercyhurst connected on 32-of-58 field goals (55 percent), which included 13-of-23 beyond the arc (57 percent).  The Lakers also shot well from the free throw line, hitting 16-of-20 (80 percent).

In terms of Bowie State team stats, the Bulldogs also put up 58 field goal attempts, making 29 (50 percent).  Bowie State also shot 50 percent beyond the 3-point line (5-of-10) and ended the non-conference game with a season-high 91 percent from the free throw line.

"I'm really proud of our guys ... they played hard, defended well and made stops when we needed to, plus excellent free throw shooting made the difference", said third year head Coach Darrell Brooks.

Bowie State will close out their portion of the Mercyhurst Invitational against NAIA member Roberts Wesleyan College.  The Bulldogs and Raiders will get underway at 1 pm.