ERIE, Pa. – For the third time since joining the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), the Mercyhurst University men's basketball team will face-off in the PSAC Tournament Semifinals. This year they will face Shippensburg on Saturday, March 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Hollinger Fieldhouse on the campus of West Chester.
After a hot shooting performance Tuesday night in the PSAC Quarterfinal Round against Clarion at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center (MAC), the Lakers will have their shot to advance to their first ever PSAC Championship game.
The Lakers finished Tuesday night's contest shooting 51.9 percent (28-of-54) from the floor and made 13-of-20 (65.0%) 3-pointers --tied season-high.
Mercyhurst's hot shooting in the first half propelled them to a 25 point halftime lead. Clarion came back to outscore the Lakers by nine the final 20 minutes of action, but the Lakers had already put enough damage on the Golden Eagles for them to ever get back within single digits.
Shippensburg's two PSAC Tournament wins thus far came by a combined four points. The Raiders have reached the semifinals by defeating five-seeded Bloomsburg, 80-78, in the first round; and then, took down top-seeded Kutztown, 74-72, in the quarterfinals.
The last time these two teams faced-off against one another was back on November 21, 2015 at the MAC, when the Raiders handed the Lakers their first loss of the season, 74-68. Shippensburg shot 33 free throws in that game, making 25, and drained nine 3-pointers en route to the victory. Mercyhurst shot 52.9 percent (27-of-51) from the floor in the loss.
In the Lakers last two trips to the semifinals back in 2011-12 and 2013-14, they lost to the hands of East Stroudsburg, who, then, went on to win the title each year.
Mercyhurst is in need of a win to keep their National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament dreams alive, as Shippensburg replaced them in the ten slot of the official NCAA Atlantic Region Poll earlier this week.
Game Notes for 3/5/16 | Mercyhurst vs Shippensburg
Mercyhurst- Saturday's game against Shippensburg marks the Lakers 3rd trip to the PSAC Semifinals since joining the conference in 2008-09.
- The Lakers are the best defensive team in the country, ranking 1st in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). They are holding opponents to 58.9 points per game.
- Mercyhurst holds the 5th best field goal percentage in the PSAC, shooting 47.7 percent from the field while also ranking 1st in rebounding defense. The Lakers hold opponents to 30.4 rebounds per game.
- Senior guard
Damon Jones ranks 16th in the PSAC in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game.
-
Kayode Ajenifuja ranks 2nd in the PSAC in field goal percentage, shooting 59.1 percent from the field.
Shippensburg- Shippensburg beat Mercyhurst back on November 21st, 74-68, at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
- The Raiders average 78.0 points per game, 5th-most in the PSAC.
- Abe Massaley leads Ship in scoring, averaging 13.9 points per game, while also leading the team in assists with 4.9 per game.
- Shippensburg is the 4th-best rebounding team in the PSAC, averaging 39.8 boards a game.
- Dustin Sleva leads the Raiders in rebounding, pulling down 11.1 a game -- 2nd-most in the PSAC.
- Sleva also leads the team in shooting percentage, averaging 50.0 from the floor.
- Ship is the four-seed and advanced to the semifinals after beating the one-seed Kutztown, 74-72.
Live Stats and video will provided for the semifinal matchup at the following links.
Live stats |
Video
