GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. — The Pratt Institute men's basketball team fell to Gwynedd Mercy University, 84-67, in an Atlantic East Conference game on Saturday afternoon. Four Cannoneers scored in double figures, led by 13 points from senior Mekhi Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.).
Pratt (10-9, 2-6 Atlantic East) hung tough in the first half but could not overcome a barrage of three-pointers from the hosts. Gwynedd Mercy (13-6, 6-2 Atlantic East) shot a blistering 48 percent from beyond the arc in the victory with 14 triples to five for the Cannoneers.
The Cannoneers started strong, taking a 10-7 lead in the opening five minutes after a pair of technical free throws from Elijah Fermaint (Orlando, Fla.). The Griffins responded with a run fueled by hot shooting, eventually building a 13-point lead at 31-18. The gold-and-black closed the half with a spirited rally, using a balanced attack to trim the deficit to just four, 43-39, at the intermission.
Gwynedd Mercy re-established control early in the second half. While Pratt managed to stay within striking distance for a period, a late run by the Griffins created separation. The hosts built their largest lead of 17 points with three minutes to play and held on for the win.
Davis added four rebounds, three assists, and three steals to his team-high 13 points. Thomas Graetz (Sydney, Australia) scored 12 points, while Kurt Thomas (Dallas, Texas) chipped in 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Thomas Prendergast (Bayport, N.Y.) netted 10 points while pulling down a team-best seven rebounds and adding two blocks.
The Griffins were paced by a game-high 23 points from Dylan Harris, who connected on six of his seven three-point attempts. D.J. Johnson added 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
The Cannoneers wrap up a four-game road stand traveling to Hackettstown, N.J. for a conference matchup with Centenary University on Wednesday, Feb. 4 tipping at 6 p.m.
