WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- No. 3-ranked Mercyhurst used its matchup zone defense to slow down the pace of the game, and as a result limited No. 20 Fairmont State to its lowest point total of the season as the Lakers edged the Falcons, 62-58, to advance to the regional semifinals on Saturday evening at West Liberty's ASRC.
 
MU will now face top-seeded Hillsdale on Sunday at 7:45 p.m. at West Liberty. Fairmont State's season comes to an end with a 15-5 record.
 
Fairmont State, who came into the game averaging 92.1 points per outing, was limited to just 21 field goals and a 42 percent shooting performance from the field. The Falcons were also just 6-of-19 from three.
 
Mercyhurst shot 46.3 percent from the field, including a solid 7-of-13 from behind the arc (53.8%). The Lakers also scored 16 points off turnovers in the win.
 
The Falcons turned the ball over 19 times in the setback.
 
Fairmont State had three double-figures scorers on the evening, led by Isaiah Sanders with 18 points. Dale Bonner also chipped in 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Seth Younkin nearly recorded a double-double in the post with 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
Mercyhurst was led on the offensive end by Zach McIntire with 15 points. The Lakers also got 12 points apiece from MiyKah McIntosh and Cameron Gross.
 
With Mercyhurst leading by seven, 60-53, with 1:29 remaining in the second half, Fairmont State answered with a three by Dale Bonner and a layup by Przemyslaw Golek on back-to-back possessions to close the MU advantage to just two with 44 seconds remaining.
 
Following a Fairmont State foul, Mercyhurst's McIntire missed the front end of a one-and-one to give the Falcons a chance to tie and take the lead with just eight seconds remaining. However, Bonner's jumper rimmed out and was rebounded by Michael Bradley, forcing the Falcons to foul.
 
Cameron Gross dropped in a pair of free throws for Mercyhurst to make the final margin 62-58.