ERIE, Pa. - After dropping their first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference contest to #25 West Chester last Saturday the Mercyhurst men's basketball team will conclude their non-conference slate on Saturday afternoon with a visit from the Dolphins of Le Moyne College.

Game Information
Opponent - Le Moyne Dolphins
Date - Saturday, December 14
Time - 3 pm
Location - Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Athletic Center)
Series History - Le Moyne leads 16-1, (Dolphins won last meeting 90-81 on 12/11/1993)
Lakers Notes
Live Video
Live Stats
Tickets

Last Time Out
Mercyhurst used a 7-0 run late in the first half to take a 39-35 edge into the locker room, and held a nine-point cushion at 69-60 late into the second.  However, West Chester closed on an 11-2 charge aided by nine points on the foul line to draw level 71-71 to force extra time.  The Lakers went up early in the bouns period, unfortunately a Colin Daly triple sparked a 7-2 Golden Rams push to go ahead 83-80.  A last ditch effort by Zach McIntire went just long to end the game.  Michael Bradley and Steve Cannady each had 13, while MiyKah McIntosh added 12 and Cameron Gross chipped in 11.  West Chester went 37-51 at the foul line to Mercyhurst 12-24.  

Scouting the Lakers  (4-2 overall, 2-1 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst is currently averaging just over 84 points per game, while holding their opponents to 68.3 ppg.  The +15.8 scoring margin is good for 22nd in the nation and tops in the PSAC.  Currently, the Lakers are shooting 51.9% from the floor having eclipsed the 50% mark in all but two games good for 12th in the country and second within the conference.  They are 41.7% beyond the arc which is 16th nationally.   They sit at 70.4% on the foul stripe.  On the defensive end of the floor the team is averaging 2.7 blocks per game, 8.3 steals, and hauling in 34.8 rebounds. 

Defense, Defense, Defense
Defense has been the name of the game for the Lakers as they have held their competition to under 70 points in 12 of their last 15 games.  Mercyhurst has allowed 70+ points two times so far this season on November 23, 2019 in an 87-85 win at home versus Millersville and the 83-80 overtime loss at West Chester last Saturday.

Showing the Depth
The Lakers are showing depth both in the starting lineup and off the bench as their bench has outscored the opponents bench 215-83 for +132 margin.

Sharing the Wealth 
McIntosh and Ufele are each averaging double-digits putting up 13.7 and 12.2 points per game.  Gross is adding 9.7, followed by Cannady with 9.2 and McIntire puts up 8.5 per contest.    

Block Party
Mercyhurst has 16 blocks as a team, led by seven for Ufele.  Four other Lakers have recorded blocks on the season as well.

NCAA Leaders
Bradley ranks ninth in the country and is tops in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 3.80.  McIntosh is 56th in free throw percentage shooting a 88.9% clip on the charity line.

Scouting the Dolphins (6-4 overall, 4-0 Northeast 10)
Le Moyne has won their last three games knocking off Alderson Broaddus, Adelphi, and Souther Connecticut State.  They score on average 86.4 ppg holding their competition to 76.6 for a +9.8 scoring margin.  From the field they are shooting at a 46.7% clip to go along with 37.3% beyond the arc, and hold a 77.2% mark at the foul line.  Their defense has been strong pulling down just under 41 rebounds per game, while blocking 3.1 shots per contest.  They turn the ball over 12.3 time resulting in 12.9 opposition points.  The Dolphins will show up on Saturday relying on a balanced offense as they have six players putting up double-figures.  Nino Hernandez is the leader with 13.6, and is followed closely by Ryan Roland (13.4), Tim Leavell (12.7), Oshea Gairey (12.0), Malik Garner (11.6), and Tom Brown (11.5).  Brown is also pacing Le Moyne in rebounding with 9.9 per game.  Three other players Lonnie Rivera, Hernandez, and Gaiirey each bring down over five per contest.  Le Moyne alum Nate Champion is in his first season at the helm of the Dolphins.  

On Deck
Mercyhurst returns to PSAC play next weekend with another East-West Crossover when they visit Bloomsburg on Friday and East Stroudsburg the next day.