ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst men's basketball team will host #24 Indiana (Pa.) for a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 3. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center (MAC).

Live stats will be available to follow with the action at the link provided. Live Stats

After finishing 20-7 overall and 17-5 in conference play, the Lakers have now outdone preseason expectations for a seventh consecutive season. Mercyhurst finished second in the PSAC Western Division behind Gannon, as they both earned first round byes into the quarterfinals Tuesday.

Indiana (Pa.) advanced to the quarterfinals with an 82-63 win over Pitt-Johnstown in the first round Saturday at the Kovelchick Complex. Devante Chance led the Crimson Hawks in scoring with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. IUP finished the game shooting 51.8% (29-56) from the field, while five players finished in double figures.

Coach Gary Manchel has now taken his team to six straight PSAC Tournaments and is looking to advance to the PSAC Final four for the third time in four years. He has led the Lakers to their first 20 win season since 2010-11. Mercyhurst also finished 20-7 overall that season.

Gerrae Williams is averaging a team-high 10.9 points per game, while Damon Jones averages 10.3. They are the only two Lakers to average double figures in scoring. Senior Callon Dailey leads the team in assists with 65 (2.7 apg) and in steals with 36 (1.5 spg). James Ewing cleans up the glass grabbing 5.4 rebounds a game, while Dailey follows with 3.6.

Chance, IUP's all-time assist leader, leads IUP, averaging 16.2 points per game and 6.0 assists with 173 dimes this season. Senior Jeremy Jeffers is also playing well of late, scoring in double-figures four of the last five outings. Shawn Dyer leads the team in rebounding with 5.5 boards a game.
 
The Lakers and Crimson Hawks both allow 61.8 points per game, tied for seventh-fewest in the country. Mercyhurst is also tied for 14th in the country in turnover margin (4.3) and 23rd in free-throw percentage (75.3%) nationally. 

In two meetings this season, Mercyhurst has defeated the Crimson Hawks twice. Once earlier at the Kovalchick Center, 65-62, and later at home, 58-55, on a game-winning three-pointer by Jean Onana. It marked the first season sweep over IUP since joining the PSAC in 2008-09. Mercyhurst earned their first road playoff victory in program history last season when they defeated Indiana (Pa.), 67-56.

Mercyhurst will be looking for its third PSAC Final Four appearance in program history. The Lakers advanced to that round last season, falling to East Stroudsburg, 63-55, on the road. This year's Final Four will be hosted by the highest remaining seed in the Western Division on March 7-8. The winner of the Mercyhurst-IUP game will take on the winner of Tuesday's Millersville at East Stroudsburg contest.