The Griffin men headed north on Interstate 79 for the second consecutive Wednesday as they battled Mercyhurst in PSAC West action.  Mercyhurst took control of the game with a 13-5 run at the end of the first half and used that in route to an 85-80 win.  SHU falls to 11-13 overall and 8-12 in PSAC play.
 
Seton Hill is currently in the sixth and final PSAC playoff spot it the west.  SHU is a half game behind fifth place Slippery Rock and leads seventh place Cal by a game and a half.
 
Spencer Casson got the Griffins off to a quick start by scoring the first four points of the game.  The Lakers responded with nine points in a row to take a 9-4 lead with 14 minutes to play in the half.  A three pointer from Nathan Davis and three more baskets from Casson pushed the Griffins lead to 15-13 midway thru the half. 
 
SHU used another three from Nathan Davis and a basket from Fernando Salsamendi to increase the lead to 22-19 with just under nine minutes to play in the half.  A three from Damjan Sredanovic and a free throw from Casson extended the Griffins lead to 27-23 with 6:36 to play in the half.  Casson's basket with 3:41 to play gave the Griffins their final lead of the half at 29-26.  The Lakers outscored the Griffins 13-5 over the final 3:41 to take a 39-34 lead at the half. 
 
After the Lakers hit a three to open the second half, the Davis brothers scored back to back baskets to trim the lead to 42-38.  Casson's dunk cut the Lakers lead to 52-47 with 13:45 left in the half.  Mercyhurst pushed their lead to nine points before Zach Herman drained a three and Casson finished a layup to cut the lead to 63-59 with 8:22 to play.  Nathan Davis hit one of two free throws to trim the lead to three. 
 
Mercyhurst pushed their lead back to ten points with just under five minutes to play in the contest and led 76-65 with 3:26 to play.  Nathan Davis hit two free throws followed by a Salsamendi layin and Casson layup to trim the lead to 76-71 with 2:07 left.  Another layup from Casson cut the lead to three with 1:31 to play but the Lakers hit a three on their next possession to push the lead to 79-73 with just over a minute to go.  SHU would get no closer than five points the rest of the way.
 
Spencer Casson led the Griffins with a career high 33 points.  He added 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.  Damjan Sredanovic added 14 points.  Nathan Davis reached double figures with 13 points and Fernando Salsamendi finished with 11 points.
 
SHU returns to action on Saturday when they travel to Indiana (PA).