(HAMILTON) – The No. 9 nationally ranked Mohawk Mountaineers men's basketball team dug themselves a hole early, but complete a comeback to defeat the Humber Hawks 78-77.
 
Humber started the game on an 11-4 run and led by 11 after the first 10 minutes.
 
It only got worse offensively for Mohawk in the second quarter as they were held to 12-points on 23.5 per cent shooting. The Hawks led by 16 at halftime.
 
Momentum began to turn in the Mountaineers favour with 7:27 in the third when Jerry Jr. Mercury (Scarborough, ON) knocked down a three and then forced a steal that transitioned into a dunk.
 
Charlie Hennessey (Windsor, ON) followed Mercury's individual performance with back-to-back threes to cut the Hawks lead to six.
 
Mohawk would get the Humber lead down to three, but a late free throw for the Hawks would make it 59-55after three.
 
The two teams would trade baskets to open the fourth quarter. With Humber up 70-62 with 6:05 left, Mercury once again shined, knocking down a deep-ball and a midrange to cut the lead back down to three.
 
Later Cale Calura (Hamilton, ON) scored two and Raivone Young (Halifax, ON) made two free throws for the Mountaineers as they tied the game at 72-72 with 2:28 remaining.
 
Momentum would continue to favour the Mountaineers as Calura would make another jump shot to give Mohawk a 74-72 lead and Mercury would extend it to four.
 
The Hawks would cut it down to two again, but Young would make two free throws for Mohawk to make it 78-74. Humber then made a three with six seconds left to make it a one-point game but the Mountaineers would just hold on for the win.
 
Mercury had a monster game, scoring a career-high 34-points with a double-double that included 14 rebounds. Two others on Mohawk finished in double-digit scoring as Calura and Young each had 10.
 
Next up for the Mountaineers is a matchup versus the Redeemer Royals on Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. in Ancaster, ON.

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