Men's Basketball | 3/13/2015 11:53:00 AM

WEST LIBERTY, WV. – The Mercyhurst men's basketball team arrives at West Liberty to partake in their first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament game in program history. The Lakers will face a relatively familiar foe in Fairmont State, a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC). The game is slated for an 8:30 p.m. tipoff from the ASRC on the campus of host school West Liberty University.

Mercyhurst (20-8, 17-5 PSAC) enters Saturday night's game coming off a loss to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament Runner-Up, Indiana PA, 67-59, in the Quarterfinals. Before being knocked out by the Crimson Hawks, the Lakers had ended the regular season on a five game winning streak, where they earned their first 20 win season since 2010-11.

Gerrae Williams, an All-PSAC Second Team performer, is averaging a team-high 10.9 points per game, while Damon Jones averages 10.0. They are the only two Lakers to average double-figures in scoring. Senior Callon Dailey leads the team in assists with 66 (2.6 apg) and in steals with 38 (1.5 spg). James Ewing cleans up the glass grabbing 5.3 rebounds a game, while Dailey follows with 3.6. The Lakers allow 62.0 points per game, eighth-fewest in the country. Mercyhurst is also tied for 10th in the country in turnover margin (4.3) and 32nd in free-throw percentage (74.8%).

Fairmont State (21-10, 16-6 MEC) comes in making their second trip to the NCAA Atlantic Regional in the past three years. The Fighting Falcons were defeated in the MEC Tournament Championship game against Glenville State, 65-58. Prior to their loss, the Falcons won four straight.

Guard Jamal Morris and forward Nick Harney both average 18 points per game to lead the Fighting Falcons. Harney also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.6 boards a game. Forward Thomas Wimbush follows, grabbing 6.6 rebounds a game. As a team, Fairmont State averages 80.7 points which ranks them 43rd in the country.

The Lakers and Falcons both matched up in the season opener at the Joe Retton Classic. Mercyhurst would eventually fall to Fairmont St, 72-53. Jones and Paris Bennett each scored 12 for the Lakers, as they went on to shoot 52.3% (23-44) from the field. Thomas Wimbush and Chase Morgan paced the Falcons with 17 apiece. Mercyhurst turned the ball over 17 times in the first matchup, second highest amount this season (at Urbana – 19).

Live Stats and video will be provided from West Liberty at the links provided.

Live Stats | Live Video

Game Day Schedule at West Liberty:
Saturday, March 14
Regional Quarterfinals
Session 1
GM 1   #3 Indiana (PA) vs #6 Glenville - 12:00 PM
GM 2   #2 Gannon vs #7 Slippery Rock - 2:30 PM
 
Session 2
GM 3-   #1 West Liberty vs #8 Livingstone - 6:00 PM
GM 4-   #4 Fairmont vs   #5 Mercyhurst - 8:30 PM


Sunday, March 17
Session 3
GM 5 - Game 1 Winner vs Game 2 Winner - 5:00 PM
GM 6 - Game 3 Winner vs Game 4 Winner - 7:30 PM