ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team hosts Lock Haven and Bloomsburg in a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover games at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center this week. On Tuesday, December 17, the Lakers face Lock Haven at 7:30 p.m. The next day, Mercyhurst plays Bloomsburg at 7:30 p.m.
 
Live stats for both games will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/hurst/mbball/.


 
With the newly-expanded PSAC in 2013-14, crossover contests will not count in the conference standings. The Lakers resume PSAC Western Division on January 11 against IUP.
 
Coach Gary Manchel's squad is 4-3 overall and 3-0 in the league. It won, 58-54, at rival Gannon December 7. Jean Onana scored 17 points as the Lakers used a 13-0 run midway through the second half to overtake the Golden Knights.
 
Jonathan Ouegnin earned PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Week honors for leading the Lakers to wins over California (Pa.) and Gannon. Ouegnin is averaging 12 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He is shooting 58 percent from the floor. Anthony Lytle is putting 10.2 points on 69 percent shooting, while Onana is scoring 9.9 points per game. The Laker defense is allowing 62.9 points, third-fewest in the PSAC and 15^th-fewest nationally.
 
Lock Haven sports a 3-3 overall mark, including a 1-2 PSAC record. It lost at #12 East Stroudsburg, 102-87, December 4. Wali Hepburn leads the conference in scoring at 21.7 points per game. He paces the Bald Eagles with 6.3 boards and 3.3 assists per contest. Kasheef Festus is next with 12.2 points and 6.3 rebounds a game.
 
Bloom is 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the PSAC. The Huskies took an 80-61 decision at Shippensburg December 7. Dontahe Jordan is recording 18 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while three other Huskies are averaging double figure points. Bloom is shooting 47.7 percent from the floor, which stands second in the league.
 
In 2012-13, Mercyhurst swept two meetings with Lock Haven and won, 65-52, against Bloom. With the addition of Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown to the PSAC Western Division, Lock Haven has moved to the Eastern Division this season.
 
Mercyhurst's next win will give Manchel 300 for his coaching career. He has 168 career victories at Mercyhurst and 131 at UMass-Lowell.
 
For game notes, please click here.