Times Observer photo by Steve Younger Eisenhower’s Kymani Vine blocks a shot during Tuesday’s basketball game at Mercyhurst Prep.

ERIE — Eisenhower turned in quite a first-half performance against Mercyhurst Prep on Tuesday night.

Unfortunately for the Knights, they couldn’t sustain it for the entire basketball game.

Leading 21-7 after the first quarter and 42-23 at halftime, Eisenhower endured foul trouble and a host of turnovers after the break and ultimately fell to the Lakers 69-66 in a non-region battle.

Mercyhurst Prep came out of the locker room to start the second half and began to chip away at the Eisenhower lead. Turnovers and fouls plagued the Knights as the Lakers outscored the visitors 23-10 in the third quarter. The only Eisenhower field goals came from Rylan Benton and Gavin Reynolds, while Derek Guiher added a pair of free throws as the Knights saw their lead trimmed to 52-46 heading into the final period.

Mercyhurst Prep closed to within 57-56 with 4:30 left and, after trading baskets, Guiher drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to give Eisenhower a 66-64 lead with one minute remaining.

Mercyhurst Prep’s Walker Ashton hit a field goal with 23 seconds left to tie the score at 66-66, and the Knights turned the ball over at midcourt. The Lakers made a long pass to Grady Fromknecht deep in the corner who nailed a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining.

Eisenhower called a timeout with 2.9 seconds remaining, but turned the ball over on the inbounds pass as the clock ran out.

“Tonight was a game we have to learn from,” Knights head coach Ryan Mangini said. “We have gotten away with some bad second halves this season, but eventually they catch up to you. We have to do what it takes so this doesn’t happen in the future.”

Liam Hanson led the Knights with 16 points, Guiher added 14. The Lakers’ Ryan Harris led all scorers with 20 points.

In the junior varsity game, the Lakers defeated Eisenhower 63-32. Lucas Steinberg led the Knights with 10 points.

Eisenhower is back in action Friday when it travels to Erie First Christian Academy for a region contest.

EISENHOWER (66)

Reynolds 1 0 2, Vine 4 2 10, Haight 0 0 0, AHanson 3 1 7, Guiher 4 2 14, Benton 3 0 6, LHanson 7 1 16, Lindemuth 0 0 0, WMandeville 1 0 2, PMandeville 4 1 9. Totals 27 7 66.

MERCYHURST PREP (69)

Daugherty 0 0 0, Ollinger 2 6 10, Coleman 0 1 1, Harris 8 1 20, DiBello-Milliacci 5 4 14, , Garner 2 1 5, Fromknecht 4 0 9, Bengel 3 2 9, Ashton 0 1 1. Totals 24 16 69.

3-point goals–Guiher 4, LHanson, Harris 3, Fromknecht, Bengel.

Eisenhower 21 21 10 14 — 66

Mercyhurst Prep 7 16 23 23 — 69

Jayvees: Mercyhurst Prep 63, Eisenhower 32