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INDIANA, Pa. – East Stroudsburg University's 10-game winning streak came to an end in the PSAC semifinals on Saturday, as Mercyhurst held the Warriors to a season-low points total while earning a 67-64 victory at IUP.

The Lakers (23-6) advance to play either the host Crimson Hawks or West Chester in Sunday afternoon's conference title game. ESU (21-7) will hope to earn an at-large bid into this year's Division II tournament, with the field of 64 set to be announced at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday night.

Freshman forward Ryan Smith totaled a game-high 25 points to go along with 11 rebounds for the Warriors. ESU used a 9-0 run to tie the score at 60-60 with 1:39 left in regulation, but Jason Massey responded with the go-ahead basket for Mercyhurst on the ensuing possession.

Massey finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Patrick Smith had 19 points (5-5 FG, 7-9 FT) to lead the Lakers, who avenged a 78-61 defeat at Koehler Fieldhouse on Dec. 1.

Free throws were a key factor this afternoon, as ESU finished 53.8 percent from the line after hitting just 14 of 26 attempts overall (12 of 23 in the second half).

The Warriors held a 26-15 lead after a 3-pointer by senior Nick Giordano with 7:10 remaining in the first half. The advantage was 28-18 after a layup by redshirt sophomore Troy Jones with 5:39 on the clock, but Mercyhurst closed on a 6-0 run to reduce its deficit to four points at the intermission.

The Lakers then started the second half on a 17-8 run to jump ahead 41-36. The lead grew to as large as 58-47 with under six minutes to play before ESU's frantic late rally. Smith had 11 of the Warriors next 13 points to level the score up at 60.

Mercyhurst scored the next five points to regain a two-possession advantage. ESU had one last chance to tie after regaining the ball down 65-62 with 16 seconds on the clock, but a pair of field goal attempts were off the mark and the Lakers hit two free throws on the other end to seal it.

Giordano and redshirt senior Jakwan Jones each supplied 11 points for the Warriors, while redshirt senior Josh Williams totaled 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting from the floor.

Smith's double-double was his ninth of the year, and he also scored 20+ points for the ninth time in his debut collegiate season. He hit 8 of 14 field goal attempts and 9 of 13 free throws.

ESU was ranked No. 5 in the latest DII Atlantic Region rankings announced last Wednesday. Eight teams from the region will advance to the national tournament: conference champions from the PSAC, CIAA and Mountain East, as well as five at-large selections.