ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's basketball team will open its 2018-19 season with a non-conference home game against Fredonia on Friday at 7 p.m. That will begin a stretch of four consecutive non-conference home games for the Lakers.

Who: Fredonia (0-0, 0-0 SUNYAC) at Mercyhurst (0-0, 0-0 PSAC)
When: Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 (7 p.m.)
Where: Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Athletic Center)
Live Stats: Click HERE
Live Video: Click HERE

• The Lakers are coming off a season in which they finished with a 13-14 overall record and 10-12 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Mercyhurst qualified for the PSAC Tournament First Round, but fell at Slippery Rock, 61-58.
• Senior forward Patrick Smith and sophomore guard Derrick Ellis Jr. are the Lakers' two returning starters. Smith averaged 8.9 points per game while Ellis put in 7.3; they ranked Nos. 3 and 4 on the team and scoring (Nos. 1 and 2 graduated). Smith also led the team in rebounds (7.9 per game) and blocks (0.7) while Ellis was the team leader in assists (3.6) and steals (1.8).
• Mercyhurst leads the all-time series against Fredonia, 3-1. The Lakers are 2-0 at home against the Blue Devils. All four meetings between the two programs were in the 1970s; the last matchup occurred in 1978-79. Fredonia is an NCAA Division III program.

Tickets: $6 for adults, $3 for non-Mercyhurst students, free for Mercyhurst students, free for children 6-and-under.

Next Up: The Lakers will be in action next when they host Daemen for a non-conference contest on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m.