ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team opens the 2012-13 regular season this weekend. The Lakers host Concord on Friday, November 9, at 5:30 p.m. and then take on West Virginia State Saturday, November 10, at 3 p.m. Both non-conference games will be played at Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
 
Live stats will be available for both contests at http://www.sidearmstats.com/hurst/mbball/scoreboard.aspx. A live America ONE broadcast will be available for Friday's game at http://www.americaonesports.com/partner_members.asp?id=16.


 
The MAC will also host two neutral-site contests this weekend. On Friday, after Mercyhurst faces Concord, West Virginia State and Kutztown will square off at 7:30 p.m. The following day, Concord and Kutztown will meet at 1 p.m. prior to the WVSU-Mercyhurst game.
 
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for senior citizens and students. Students with a valid Mercyhurst ID will be admitted for no charge.
 
Coach Gary Manchel begins his 11^th season at the helm of the Laker program. Mercyhurst went 18-10 last year, including the program's first-ever Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament win. Senior Luis Leao is back after averaging 15.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 2011-12. He was named preseason all-PSAC Western Division First Team. The Lakers were picked to finish sixth in the PSAC West, according to the preseason coaches' poll.
 
Concord, a member of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), went 17-12 last season. The Mountain Lions' top returner is sophomore Mike Boyd. He averaged seven points and four assists per game last year. Kent McBride enters his second season as head coach. McBride played at Concord and graduated in 2006. CU was chosen to finish tenth in the WVIAC preseason poll.
 
West Virginia State posted a 14-13 record in 2011-12. David Ford is back after putting up 15.8 points and seven rebounds per game last season. Head coach Bryan Poore returns for his 14^th season at WVSU. The Yellow Jackets were voted to finish fourth in the WVIAC preseason poll. 

For game notes, please click here.