Box Score ERIE, Pa. – Despite a strong game from senior Mike Kromka, the Clarion University men's basketball team dropped a 61-54 decision on the road at Mercyhurst in PSAC West action Wednesday night.
 
Kromka had 16 points and nine rebounds while hitting a career-high three 3-pointers, on three attempts. Coming into the game, Kromka was 2-for-5 on the year from 3-point range and 8 of 29 in his career. He added two blocked shots and shot 6 of 10 from the floor.
 
DeMarius Miller added 15 points, six rebounds and three assists for Clarion (3-12 overall, 1-6 PSAC West).
 
Jonathan Ouegnin led the Lakers with 13 points, while Anthony Lytle added 12 and Seaon Beins four.
 
Clarion led 44-43 with 6:44 to play before Mercyhurst (9-8, 5-2A) used an 18-7 run to take control of the game.
 
The Golden Eagles had taken the lead with a 15-6 run paced by nine points from Kromka, who hit two of his 3-pointers during the stretch, and six from Miller after trailing by eight, 37-29, with 11:40 left.
 
The game was tight throughout with neither team getting a lead bigger than 10, which Mercyhurst achieved with 13 seconds to play.
 
Mercyhurst led 23-20 at halftime after finishing the first half on a 7-0 run that saw Clarion go the final 6:39 of the first half without scoring.
 
Neither team shot well with Clarion hitting 36.5 percent of its shots and Mercyhurst 37.5 percent of its. Clarion was 8 of 19 from 3-point range compared to the Lakers 1 of 11 but Mercyhurst shot 18 of 20 from the free-throw line compared to Clarion's 8 of 13.
 
Clarion returns to action at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Edinboro.