ERIE, Pa. — In an impressive display on Thursday night, Jeff Planutis scored an outstanding 32 points to propel Mercyhurst to a 90-68 victory over Chicago State. Planutis was on fire from beyond the arc, successfully sinking 10 three-pointers for the Lakers, who now boast a 15-16 overall record and a 9-7 standing within the Northeast Conference.
Supporting Planutis’ performance, Bernie Blunt contributed significantly to the team’s success by adding 18 points while demonstrating remarkable efficiency with a 5 of 7 shooting effort from the field. Blunt showed a strong touch from long distance as well, hitting 3 of 5 from three-point range, and proved reliable at the free-throw line with a 5 for 6 record. He also managed to secure six rebounds during the game. Meanwhile, Aidan Reichert played a solid role, scoring 14 points, shooting 5 of 8 from the field, and connecting on 4 of 6 free throws.
On the opposing side, Jalen Forrest was a standout performer for the Chicago State Cougars, scoring 19 points to lead his team. Quincy Allen provided additional support with 16 points and added three steals, while Gabe Spinelli contributed 13 points and facilitated the offense with four assists. However, despite their efforts, the Cougars were unable to break their current losing streak, which now extends to six consecutive games.
Looking ahead, Chicago State is set to face off against Saint Francis in their upcoming matchup scheduled for Saturday.
