ERIE, Pa. - Riding a two-game losing streak the Mercyhurst men's basketball team will look to get back on track as they return to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference play with visits to Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg on Friday and Saturday before taking a break until the calendar flips over to 2020.  

Game Information
Opponent - Bloomsburg Huskies
Date - Friday, December 20
Time - 3 pm
Location - Bloomsburg, Pa. (E.H. Nelson Fieldhouse)
Series History - Hurst leads 11-1, (Lakers won last meeting 95-47 at the MAC on 12/8/18)
Lakers Notes 
Live Video
Live Stats
Ticket Info

Opponent - East Stroudsburg Warriors
Date - Saturday, December 21
Time - 7:30 pm
Location - Stroudsburg, Pa. (Koehler Fieldhouse)
Series History - ESU leads 8-4, (Lakers won last meeting 67-64 on 3/9/19 in the PSAC Tournament Semifinal)
Live Video
Live Stats
Ticket Info

Last Time Out
The Lakers led early 6-2, but a 14-2 charge from Le Moyne gave the guests a 24-17 edge under eight to go in the first half.  Mercyhurst closed to within four 26-22 with a three and a jumper by MiyKah McIntosh, however, they did not get all the way back as they went to the locker room down 38-29.  Ryan Roland hit a few triples early in the second to open the advantage to 46-31 and eventually got the lead out to 60-37.  Nicholas Lang, Zach McIntire, and Mcintosh put together a 19-2 run to make it 66-59, but they got no closer as the Dolphins saw it out 76-66.  McIntosh had 19 to lead the Lakers, McIntire chipped in 15, and Trystan Pratapas added 11.

Scouting the Lakers (4-3, 2-1 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst averages 81.6 points per game, while holding their opposition to 69.4.  Their +12.1 scoring margin ranks 39th nationally.  They are shooting over 50% from the floor at 50.5%, and are 71.3% at the charity line.  The Lakers sit at 41.9% shooting outside the arc which is good for 13th in the country.  At the defensive end of the floor they are pulling in 34.4 rebounds, putting up 7.3 steals per game, and are putting up 2.1 blocks.  

Protect the Ball
The Lakers have done an outstanding job of protecting the ball as their 81 turnovers on the season is good for tops in the PSAC and ranks fifth best in the country.  They are also 27th in the nation in turnovers per game with 11.6 which is good for second in the conference.  

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 16 games.  Mercyhurst has allowed 70+ points three times so far this season on November 23, 2019 in an 87-85 win at home versus Millersville, the 83-80 overtime loss at West Chester last Saturday, and the 76-66 setback home against Le Moyne.

Bench Scoring is Huge
Mercyhurst continues to be strong even outside their starting lineup as they are outscoring their opponents 228-111 for a +117 scoring margin.

Sharing the Wealth 
McIntosh and Ufele are each averaging double-digits putting up 14.4 and 11.3 points per game.  Zach McIntire is adding 9.4, followed by both Cameron Gross and Steve Cannady with 8.3.

Block Party
Mercyhurst has 19 blocks as a team, led by eight for Ufele.  Five other Lakers have recorded blocks on the season as well. 

NCAA Leaders
Bradley ranks 28th in the country and is second in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 3.14.  McIntosh is 30th in free throw percentage shooting a 90.6% clip on the charity line.

Scouting the Huskies (5-4, 2-1 PSAC)
Bloomsburg comes into the game having won three of their last four after having a three-game winning streak snapped by Wilmington University (Del.) 96-82 on Monday night.  The Huskies have been victorious in five of seven.  They average 87.1 ppg on 46% shooting from the floor, 33.5% beyond the arc, and 70.2% on the foul line.  On the defensive end Bloom pulls down 44.5 rebounds and records 4.5 blocks per contest.  They protect the ball pretty well averaging 14.4 turnovers per game.  The trio of Justin Anderson, Max Wagner, and Ky Mauras all average double-digits with Anderson and Wagner pacing the group with 17.6 and 17.5 respectively.  Wagner is also the team-leader in rebounds with 8.9.  John Sanow is in his 14th season at the head of the Huskies pack. 

Scouting the Warriors (5-3, 1-2 PSAC)
East Stroudsburg will enter their matchup with the Lakers riding a two-game win streak after knocking off Clarion two weeks ago.  They will play Edinboro on Friday, before taking on Mercyhurst Saturday.  The Warriors average 77.5 ppg knocking down 41.3% of their shots from the field, 31.3% from deep, and 70.4% on the line.  At the opposite end of the court ESU rips down 35.3 rebounds and puts up just over three blocks per game.  They force 22.1 turnovers per contest leading to 23 points.  Carlos Pepin and Kitt Najee Walls both average over ten points, followed closely by Marc Rodriguez (9.3) and Michal Weiss (9.0).  Pepin is the leading rebounder with 6.4.  Zach Sabol and Weiss each record 4.9 per game.  Jeff Wilson leads the Warriors into battle for the 18th season.  

On Deck
Mercyhurst will take a little time off for the Christmas/Holiday break and will return to action on Friday, January 3rd when the Griffins of Seton Hill University come to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.