Worcester, Mass. – David Mercier (Milford, Mass.) erupted for a career-high 27 points to lead a trio of Clark University players in double figures and the host Cougars scored a much needed 79-70 win over Emerson College in New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Saturday.

The win for the Cougars snaps a five-game losing streak and improves their record to 8-13 overall and more importantly keeps them in the hunt for one of the five playoff spots in the upcoming league tournament.

For the Lions, meanwhile, the loss is their fifth straight as they see their record dip to 9-11 overall and 3-7 in conference games.

In a contest that featured 56 fouls – including two technicals – it was the Scarlet and White who came out on top as Mercier helped the hosts build an 18-point first half lead. He used a bevy of inside moves and some long range shooting to score 21 first half points, single-handedly outscoring Emerson as the Cougars went into halftime ahead 36-20.

Clark was still ahead 42-29 early in the second half after Nicholas DaPrato (Marshfield, Mass.) scored on a putback at 14:58.

A little less than three minutes later, however, the Lions had trimmed the lead down to six after Tyson Hallowell (Lincoln, Mass.) converted a traditional three-point play and nailed a deep leftside three-pointer.

The Cougars bumped the lead back to ten at 51-41 on a jumper by Tyler Huffman (East Hartford, Conn.), but the lead was down to five after Brian Hurley (South Boston, Mass.) slithered his way for an inside hoop and Mike Carbone (North Reading, Mass.) drilled a long three-pointer with 7:35 to play.

A few minutes later the Clark advantage was again at six when Ryan Clinesmith (New York, N.Y.) made a pair of free throws, but this time the Cougars stepped on the gas and put the game away. A pair of Mercier freebies was followed by a Lucas LaLima (Colts Neck, N.J.) steal and coast-to-coast finish, putting the lead at 61-51. The Scarlet and White then went on to go 18-for-22 from the free throw line over the final four minutes, including a stretch of 15 straight to end any hopes of an Emerson comeback.

In the end, anchored by their 55 percent shooting in the second half, the Lions shot slightly better than the Cougars for the game (45.3 to 44.7), but the Scarlet and White took advantage of 21 Emerson turnovers, scoring 21 points.

Austin Pickney (Miami, Fla.) led the Lions with 18 points and a game-best 15 rebounds, while Hallowell added 15 points and Clinesmith chipped in with ten.

Mercier was extremely efficient in reaching his point total, connecting on 9-of-14 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line to go along with six rebounds and two blocks.

DaPrato, meanwhile, added 19 points and Huffman came off the bench to record 13 points and three steals in just 18 minutes of action.

Both teams are in action on Wednesday with key conference matchups. Emerson hosts Coast Guard while the Cougars welcome Wheaton. Both games tip off at 7:00 p.m.