ERIE, Pa.—The Mercyhurst men's basketball team will take on host IUP in the PSAC Championship on Sunday March 10th. 
 
Who: Mercyhurst (23-6) vs. IUP  (28-2)
When: Sunday, March 10th, 2019 (3:00 PM)
Where: Indiana, Pa.
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PSAC Semifinal Summary Against East Stroudsburg
 
 

• Patrick Smith led the Lakers with 19 points, while Jason Massey recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.  Nelson Maxwell was the other Laker scoring in double figures with 11.

 

• Edvaldo Ferreira and Patrick Smith were huge on the defensive side today, both recording three blocks each.  Edvaldo also had three steals tying Derrick Ellis Jr. with the most on the team, respectively. 

 

• Speeding up into the second, Mercyhurst would cut its deficit to only two after a McIntosh steal and a layup at the other end.  ESU tried keeping its lead but Smith had something else in mind. Smith would hit a three pointer and then make a layup to give the Lakers its first lead of the game since the 18:07 mark of the first, 37-36. The Lakers wouldn't put a stop to its lead there increasing it to five off a 9-0 run. Just under the half way point of the final half, Massey would extend the Lakers lead to 11 giving them their largest lead of the contest. But unfortunately, ESU would not go away and would go on a 13-2 run to eventually tie the game with 1:39 remaining.  

 

• Massey would then make a layup to break the tie followed by a Maxwell layup to give MU a 64-60 lead with 39 seconds remaining. ESU would cut the lead back to three with 17 seconds remaining off made free throws making it 65-62. East Stroudsburg's Jakwan Jones would have a chance to tie the game off a three pointer but would miss and would allow Smith to get the rebound and go shoot free throws at the other end to close out the game for the Lakers 67-64.  

 

• From the floor, ESU outshot MU 47.9 percent to the Lakers 44.8. MU outrebounded ESU 36-28 and recorded 15 steals compared to their 11.

 
Laker Facts
 

• MU is ninth in the conference in points per game averaging 76.3
• On the defensive side, the Lakers have the number one defense in the conference and ranked second in the country only allowing 60.7 points per game
• In other categories in the conference, Mercyhurst is first in scoring margin (15.7), first in three-point field goal percentage (.400), fifth in three-point field goals made (8.8) and fourth in field goal percentage (.475)
• For the third time in five years, the Lakers have finished the regular season with 20 wins 

 
Leading the Lakers
 

• Massey leads MU in scoring averaging 15.6 per game and has been nominated first team all-conference in the PSAC West Division
• In rebounds, Smith leads the team with 8.8 per game placing him fifth in the PSAC
• Smith was also nominated Second team all-region
• From behind the Arc, Pratapas leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.535)
• Ellis Jr. averages 4.2 assists and is tenth in the conference
• Ferreira defends the rim on for MU averaging 1.6 blocks per game and is fourth in the PSAC

 
IUP  Facts
 

• The Crimson Hawks are coming into the game off a semifinal victory over West Chester 90-69 giving IUP their 9th straight victory
• IUP comes into the contest averaging the fifth most points in the conference with 81.1
• On defense IUP sits in third allowing 65.7 points per game
• In other categories, Indiana is second in scoring margin (15.4), second in three point field goals made (9.4) and fourth in assists (16)

 
Leading the Crimson Hawks
 

• Jacobo Diaz leads IUP  in points per game (7th in PSAC) with 18.6 points per game 
• Diaz also is first on the team in boards (3rd in PSAC) with 9.1 per game
• Dante Lombardi leads the conference in three point field goals made per game with 3.3
• Lombardi is also a top of the conference in assists averaging 5.5 and steals with 2.3 (2nd in PSAC)

 
 
Previous Meetings 

• Mercyhurst and IUP both captured a victory on the road against one another in the regular season
• IUP won the first matchup at Mercyhurst 77-66 (Jan. 9th)
• Mercyhurst won the second meeting at IUP on a Trystan Pratapas buzzer beater upsetting the Hawks 64-63

 
 
PSAC Championship 

• Mercyhurst will play against IUP in the conference championship today at 3:00 PM
• The winner will receive and automatic bid into the NCAA tournament
• The loser of the contest will have to wait for the NCAA Selection Show later tonight to see if they will advance 
• This is also the Lakers second time in four years in the PSAC Championship with its previous time earning the victory over West Chester 70-67 (2015-16 Season)