Penn State Hockey, Basketball Beat Mercyhurst 7-2, 72-57

Penn State men’s basketball beat Mercyhurst 72-57 Thursday at the Bryce Jordan Center, improving to 3-1 and remaining unbeaten at home in the teams’ first meeting. Ivan Jurić led the Nittany Lions with 20 points and 15 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double, while Brant Byers and Roko Prkačin added 14 points apiece. Mercyhurst, playing with only eight available players, kept the game close through a sluggish first half and briefly tied it after halftime, but Penn State pulled away with improved ball movement and timely 3-pointers. Coach Mike Rhoades credited the Lakers with slowing the game and said Penn State still needs to improve its physicality; postgame analysis also noted that the close stretches against a depleted opponent highlighted lingering concerns despite the win.