LORETTO, Pa. (Interstat) — Bernie Blunt scored 31 points and Qadir Martin added 23 as Mercyhurst used a dominant first-half offensive display to cruise past Saint Francis (PA) 94-79 in a Northeast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at DeGol Arena.

The visiting Lakers (13-14, 8-6 NEC) shot a blistering 60.3% from the field for the game and scored 50 points before halftime to build a commanding lead they would never relinquish. The Red Flash (6-20, 4-10) fell behind by double digits early and could not mount a sustained comeback despite a game-high 33 points from Skylar Wicks.

The most important part of the game was Mercyhurst’s immediate and overwhelming offensive efficiency, which established control within the opening minutes and negated the home court advantage. The Lakers scored on their first three possessions, with Blunt getting an offensive rebound and putback on the game’s first shot, setting a tone of aggression. By the first media timeout, Mercyhurst led 11-4, having made five of its first seven shots while forcing three Saint Francis turnovers.

That early surge blossomed into a 14-point lead midway through the first half. A 9-0 run, capped by a Jake Lemelman three-pointer off a steal, pushed the advantage to 25-11. The Lakers’ offense operated with precision, scoring 48 points in the paint and committing only eight turnovers. Their offensive rating of 139.2 on 68 possessions underscored a afternoon of exceptional shot-making and decision-making.

Saint Francis, which lost to Mercyhurst in overtime just nine days prior, struggled to find consistent answers. While Wicks was prolific, the Red Flash shot just 20 of 33 from the free-throw line and were outrebounded 31-22. A late first-half push, keyed by Wicks, cut the deficit to 36-33, but Mercyhurst closed the period on a 14-3 run. Blunt and Martin combined for nine points in the final 1:51, sending the Lakers into halftime with a 50-36 lead.

Any hope of a Saint Francis rally was extinguished quickly after the break. Mercyhurst opened the second half with a 10-4 spurt, with Martin scoring six points, to push the lead back to 20 points. The Red Flash never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way, as the Lakers’ lead fluctuated between 15 and 20 points for the final 15 minutes.

Blunt, a guard from Morgantown, Pennsylvania, filled the stat sheet, adding eight rebounds and four assists to his scoring output. Martin, a forward from Staten Island, New York, contributed eight rebounds and three blocks. Lemelman had 12 points and six assists for Mercyhurst.

For Saint Francis, Wicks, a junior from Jersey City, New Jersey, added five rebounds and five assists to his 33 points. Zion Russell scored 11 points and Ahmad Harrison added 10.

The game, attended by 910 fans, was a stark contrast in efficiency. Mercyhurst made 35 of 58 field goals and 16 of 18 free throws. Saint Francis, while shooting 52% from the floor, had 13 fewer field goal attempts, hampered by 10 turnovers and Mercyhurst’s seven offensive rebounds.

The victory gave Mercyhurst a regular-season sweep of the series and moved the Lakers above .500 in conference play. Saint Francis has now lost four of its last five games.