SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Freshman guard Marcus Banks (Clinton, Md./Riverdale Baptist) scored a game-high 15 points to lead Shepherd (5-5, 2-3 PSAC) to a 61-57 win over Mercyhurst (6-7, 2-3 PSAC) in PSAC men's basketball action at the Butcher Center on Saturday. 

Banks connected on 6-of-9 shots with a 3-of-4 performance from three-point range. He also added four rebounds. 

Senior guard Daniel McClain-Corley (Clinton, Md./Massanutten Military Academy) added 14 points and five boards. Senior guard Phillip Jordan (Rockville, Md./St. Albans) contributed 11 points, a game-high five assists, and four rebounds. Sophomore forward Stefan Marcelle (Washington, D.C./Georgetown Prep) grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

Sean Fullerton and Christian Gamble each had 13 points to lead the Lakers. Jeff Planutis added 10 points. 

Mercyhurst had a 37-35 lead at halftime behind 10 first-half points from Gamble. 

In a tight contest throughout, Shepherd took the lead for good when junior forward Carson Poffenberger (Morgantown, W.Va./Morgantown) scored a layup on a feed from Marcelle at 52-51 with 4:45 left to play. The Rams closed the game on a 9-6 run to capture the victory. 

Shepherd connected on 56.8 percent (25-44) of its field goals with a 50 percent (9-18) performance from three-point range. The Rams drained 66.7 percent (2-3) of their free throws. 

Mercyhurst shot 45.6 percent (22-48) from the floor with a 35.3 percent (6-17) effort from beyond the arc. The Lakers hit 63.6 percent (7-11) from the foul line. 

Shepherd had a 29-20 advantage in rebounds. The Rams forced two turnovers and committed eight.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Indiana (Pa.) for a 7:30 p.m. contest.