ERIE, Pa. – For the second straight year, the Mercyhurst University men's basketball team will host a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Quarterfinal game. The Lakers will welcome Clarion to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center Tuesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Mercyhurst split the regular season series with Clarion, with each team winning on their home floor. The Lakers defeated the Golden Eagles 82-69 back on December 19, before being upended earlier this month at Tippin Gymnasium, 67-62.

The loss to Clarion back on February 6 was the middle of a three-game losing streak for the Lakers, which seemed to drop them out of contention for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.

After the three-game skid elapsed, Mercyhurst went on to win their final three games of the regular season, giving them hope to return to the NCAA Tournament. The Lakers were voted tenth in the official NCAA Atlantic Region Poll that came out last Wednesday, February 24.

Since joining the PSAC in 2008-09, Mercyhurst has only failed to the make the tournament once. That was in the inguarural 08-09 season, when they finished 16-11 overall.

Tuesday will mark the seventh consecutive trip to the PSAC Tournament, in which they reached the quarterfinal round six times. The Lakers have only played two PSAC Tournament First Round games, receiving four byes to the quarterfinal round.

The Last time Mercyhurst faced off against Clarion in the PSAC Tournament was in 2009-10, which is also the last time Clarion has reached the PSAC Tournament. The Golden Eagles went on to defeat the Lakers at Tippin Gymnasium, 76-69.

Clarion leads the all-time series, 28-24.Mercyhurst
- Mercyhurst heads into Tuesday's PSAC Tournament Quarterfinal off a win at crosstown rival Gannon, 76-47.
- The Lakers are, again, the best defensive team in the country, ranking 1st in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and 1st in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). They are holding oppo­nents to 58.6 points per game.
- Mercyhurst holds the 5th-best field goal percentage in the PSAC, shooting 47.5 percent from the field while also ranking 1st in rebounding defense. The Lakers hold opponents to 30.2 rebounds per game.
- Senior guard Damon Jones ranks 14th in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 14.8 points per game.
- Kayode Ajenifuja ranks 2nd in the PSAC in field goal percentage, shooting 58.3 percent from the field.
 
Clarion
- Clarion enters Tuesday's game off a win in the PSAC Tournament First Round at Edinboro, 83-69. It was their first PSAC Tournament win in six years. (Last time 2009-10 vs Mercyhurst)
- Rob Agurs leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game. He also has recorded eight double-doubles this season. One coming in the PSAC Tournament first round, where he scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
- The Golden Eagles average 75.1 points per game and shoot 42.9 percent from the field.
- Andre' Anthony leads the team in assists, averaging 3.4 a game.
- Center Akeem Williams is the PSAC's third-lead­ing shot blocker, averaging 1.5 blocks per game.