ERIE, Pa. – The IUP men's basketball ran out of steam following a pair of game-extending rallied, falling in double overtime at Mercyhurst by an 93-85 margin on Wednesday night in Erie.
Playing catch up throughout the night, IUP (14-7, 11-4 PSAC), led for only 24 seconds of the contest and did just enough to force two overtime periods. Mercyhurst eventually got back to the .500 mark on the season at 12-12 overall and 8-8 in league play, led by a stellar double-double effort from Jeff Planutis.
IUP resiliently posted the final six points of regulation, including a shot from
KJ Rhodes as time expired that leveled the score at 70 apiece going into overtime. Another chapter in a tightly contested series over the years, Mercyhurst head coach Gary Manchel reached 500 career victories in dramatic fashion with the triumph.
Planutis finished with 35 points (13-23 FG) an 15 rebounds for Mercyhurst, which led for 45:25 of the double overtime contest. Sean Fullerton collected eight points in the second overtime session along for the Lakers, finishing with 19 points on the night.
The Lakers and Crimson Hawks counterpunched throughout the night with both sides converting in timely situations. In addition to Rhode's game-tying basket,
Ethan Porterfield and
Garvin Clarke evened the score from beyond the arc over the final 1:20 of the first overtime frame. Porterfield surpassed 1,700 points in his career with 22 points and 16 rebounds, while Clarke approached a double-double of his own with a team-high 24 points and eight assists. Rhodes and
Bryce Radford (6-14 3FG) each posted 18 points for the Hawks.
Mercyhurst owned a 40-24 edge in the paint on the night, knocking off IUP again in Erie. IUP trailed 16-7 in the opening half, starting slow offensively against a stout Laker defense. A six-point run lasted nearly five minutes as IUP got back within 16-13 a little more than midway through the half.
Mercyhurst did not turn the ball over for over 13 minutes in the first half, maintaining a 23-16 edge. The Lakers continued to attack underneath as Planutis became the first player to reach double figures with 12 points.
Rhodes knocked down four timely triples in the first half, using an electric shooting performance to get back within 34-30 with 2:50 left in the half. Rhodes continued his hot shooting, driving inside for his 14th point that got the Hawks back within two.
Sarp Furtun dropped in the Hawks' seventh trey of the half, helping the visitors overcome a slow start to trail by just one at 36-35.
IUP finished the half 54.2% from the floor, trimming an 11-point deficit (32-21) back down to one at the intermission. Rhodes matched a game-high 14 points in the first half, while Clarke added eight points with six assists for the Hawks.
Planutis reached 20 points with a trey two minutes into the second half for a 42-37 Mercyhurst advantage. Christian Gamble stretched the Laker lead to 46-41 off an IUP turnover. Porterfield secured another double-double as IUP got back within 46-44.
Mercyhurst held IUP scoreless for over three minutes, maintaining a slim advantage near the midway point of the second half. The Hawks stayed within striking distance with both sides struggling against hard-nosed defense. Radford's third trey of the night brought IUP within 55-52 going into a media timeout.
An uphill climb throughout the night, Clarke worked the score tied for the first time all night at the 6:30 mark of the second half. Radford leveled the score again at 62 with IUP's 10th three of the night before Planutis converted a pair of baskets underneath through contact in the ensuing moments.
After two Rhodes free throws, the result was a 70-68 Mercyhurst lead with under 20 seconds remaining. Following a Mercyhurst miss at the line, Rhodes just beat the buzzer off a pass from Clarke that knotted the score at 70 through the end of regulation.
Mercyhurst jumped out to a 75-70 lead at the onset of overtime before Radford responded with a triple at the 1:56 mark. Porterfield knotted the game for the fourth time, this time at 76 with a triple. After a Luke Triggs three-point play, Clarke answered with another game-tying trey, working the score tied at 79 and forcing double overtime.
In the second overtime, Fullerton nailed a pair of key three-point baskets for an 87-79 lead that essentially sealed the victory for the Lakers.
Up Next
IUP welcomes No. 8/4 Gannon to the KCAC for Alumni Day/Faith Night on Saturday, February 10 at 3:00 p.m.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP men's basketball on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_MBB.
