WEST CHESTER, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University men's basketball team defeated Shippensburg, 79-68, in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Semifinals Saturday afternoon at the Hollinger Fieldhouse on the campus of West Chester University. The win puts the Lakers in the PSAC Championship game for the first time since joining the conference back in 2008.

After trailing by six, 37-31, at halftime, the Lakers (20-8) caught fire in the second half, as they shot 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from the floor and made 9-of-13 (69.2%) 3-point field goals. The hot shooting performance in the final 20 minutes of play was driven by senior guard Gerrae Williams, who made 4-of-6 threes and scored 16 of his team-high 20 points in the second half.

Mercyhurst will meet the host, West Chester (23-5), in the title game on Sunday afternoon at Hollinger Fieldhouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

You can follow along to tomorrow's PSAC Championship action with live stats and video provided at the following links. Also, game notes are available at the link below.

Live Stats | Video | Game Notes

West Chester advanced to the PSAC Championship game after defeating top-seeded Indiana Pa. out of the Western Division, 90-89, in overtime. The Golden Rams, who trailed all game, hit a game-winning shot with no time remaining to knock-off the Crimson Hawks. It was freshman guard Mike Penecale who made the game-winner as time expired, to push the Golden Rams into the finals. Penecale finished the game with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor.

The winner of tomorrow's title game will receive an automatic bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament. The NCAA Tournament First Round begins, Saturday, March 12.

Notes for each team can found below.

(2-seed: West) Mercyhurst at (2-seed: East) West Chester | 3/6/16 | Hollinger Fieldhouse | 3:00 p.m.

Mercyhurst 
- Saturday's win over Shippensburg, 79-68, in the PSAC Semifinals advances the Lakers to its first ever trip to the PSAC Championship game, 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 59.3 points per game.
- Mercyhurst holds the 5th best field goal percentage in the PSAC, shooting 47.6 percent from the field while also rank­ing 1st in rebounding defense. The Lakers hold opponents to 30.5 rebounds per game.
- Senior guard Damon Jones ranks 16th in the PSAC in scor­ing, averaging 14.4 points per game.
- Senior forward Kayode Ajenifuja ranks 2nd in the PSAC in field goal percentage, shooting 58.8 percent from the field.
West Chester
- West Chester enters the PSAC Championship game after defeating the one-seed out of the Western Division, IUP, 90-89, in overtime.
- The Golden Rams average the 3rd-most points in the PSAC, scoring 81.7 a game.
- West Chester holds the 5th-best scoring defense in the PSAC, allowing 72.2 points per game.
- The Golden Rams are the nest rebounding team in the PSAC, pulling down 43.5 boards a game.
- Malik Jackson leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game -- 10th-most in the PSAC.
- Matt Wiseley leads the PSAC in rebounding, pull­ing down 11.3 boards a game.
- West Chester shoots 37.2 percent from behind the arc -- 4th-best in the PSAC.