ERIE, Pennsylvania — In an exciting matchup on Friday night, Jeff Planutis contributed significantly with 23 points, leading Mercyhurst to a 76-69 victory over Stonehill.

Planutis also recorded three steals in the game, helping the Lakers improve their season record to 7-9 overall and 1-0 in the Northeast Conference. Aidan Reichert also had an impressive performance, scoring 22 points with an efficient shooting display, hitting 5 of 7 shots from the field and going 11 of 12 from the free-throw line. He further contributed with eight rebounds. In addition, Bernie Blunt made notable contributions, scoring 15 points, which included making 7 of 8 free-throw attempts and shooting 3 of 11 overall, with 2 of those being from beyond the arc.

On the other hand, the Skyhawks, now at 8-8 and 0-1 in the conference, were led by Todd Brogna, who secured 19 points and also grabbed six rebounds. Louie Semona was another key player for Stonehill, finishing with 17 points and eight rebounds of his own, while Hermann Koffi added 12 points to the tally.

Both teams are set to return to action on Sunday, with Mercyhurst hosting Central Connecticut State, while Stonehill will be traveling to face Saint Francis (PA).