SARNIA, Ont. – Jerry Jr. Mercury scored a career-high 37 points as the Mohawk Mountaineers men's basketball team opened a weekend road swing with a 93-80 victory over the Lambton Lions on Friday night.

Mercury (Scarborough, Ont.) also set a career best with six three-pointers in the win.

The opening quarter featured several momentum swings. Lambton built a 17-10 lead midway through the frame before Mohawk responded with a 9-0 run to take a 19-17 advantage. The Lions briefly tied the game, but the Mountaineers answered with seven straight points before Lambton closed on a 5-0 run, leaving Mohawk ahead 26-24 after one quarter.

The second quarter was tightly contested, featuring four lead changes and five ties. Neither team led by more than three points, and the score was knotted 49-49 at halftime.

After Lambton opened the third quarter with a three-pointer, Mohawk responded with a 9-0 run to go ahead 58-52. The Lions continued to battle back and tied the game again at 66-66 with 2:41 remaining in the quarter. The Mountaineers closed the frame on another run to take a 75-66 lead into the fourth, with Mercury scoring 15 points in the quarter.

Mohawk pulled away in the final period, extending its lead to a game-high 21 points with 5:11 remaining. The Mountaineers never allowed the margin to drop back into single digits down the stretch.

Mohawk capitalized on 23 Lambton turnovers, converting them into 30 points.

Along with his scoring outburst, Mercury added seven rebounds and two blocks. Kazim Raza (Markham, Ont.) and Scott Jenkins (Hamilton, Ont.) each finished with 13 points, with Jenkins also contributing seven rebounds, six steals and five assists.

The Mountaineers return to action Saturday in Windsor, Ont., where they will face the No. 12 nationally ranked St. Clair Saints at 3 p.m.