ERIE, Pa. - After a thrilling a last-second victory over crosstown rival Gannon University on Saturday night. The Mercyhurst men's basketball team will look to avoid a slip-up and run their win streak to five games in a row when they welcome The Rock of Slippery Rock University on Wednesday night to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center for PSAC West action.
Game Information
Opponent - The Rock of Slippery Rock University
Date - Wednesday, January 22
Time - 7:30 pm
Location - Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Athletic Center)
Series History - Rock leads 29-27, (Lakers won last meeting 73-68 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on 3/6/19 in the PSAC Quarter-FInal)
Last Time Out
Mercyhurst fell behind early trailing 6-2 and by as many as ten at 24-14 with just under five minutes to go in the first half. However, the home side closed on a 10-2 push finished off by a step-back three for
Cameron Gross to leave themselves down just 26-24 at half. Gannon came out of the break strong with a 5-0 run stretching the lead to 31-24. The Lakers began their rally with three-pointers by
Steve Cannady and
MiyKah McIntosh helping to aid a 12-0 rampage to move in front 36-31. The game would be nip and tuck from there with the score locked 55-55 with 20-seconds to go. Pratapas would then cash in on a corner feed from McIntosh with 1.3 seconds left for the 58-55 victory. Gross led the team with 16 points and was joined in double-figures off the bench by McIntosh with 12.
Zach McIntire added eight, while
Michael Bradley, Cannady, and Pratapas had six each.
Scouting the Lakers (10-5, 8-3 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst averages 76.9 points per game, while holding their opposition to 66.8. Their +10.1 scoring margin ranks 42nd nationally. They are just below 50% from the floor at 49.5% for the season, while they are 73.2% at the charity line. The Lakers sit at 41.8% shooting outside the arc which is now good for seventh in the country and tops in the conference. At the defensive end of the floor they are pulling in 31.5 rebounds, putting up just under seven steals per game with 6.9, and are averaging 2.4 blocks per game.
Protect the Ball
The Lakers have done a fantastic job of protecting the ball as their 162 turnovers on the season ranks third in the country and first in the PSAC. Mercyhurst is 15th nationally in average turnovers per game with 10.8 which is also second-best in 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 17 of their last 24 games and nine of the 15 games this campaign. Mercyhurst has allowed 70+ points five 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, the 76-66 setback home against Le Moyne, falling at ESU 83-64, at IUP 71-56, and on the road at UPJ in an 82-74 win.
Bench Scoring is Huge
Mercyhurst continues to be strong even outside their starting lineup as they are outscoring their opponents 395-264 for a +131 scoring margin.
Sharing the Wealth
McIntosh continues to lead the Lakers in scoring with 13.9 points per game and is joined in double-digits by Gross who adds 11.0. McIntire, Ufele and Bradley each chip in over nine points, while Pratapas adds 7.3. The balance continues with over six each from
Nicholas Lang and Cannady.
Block Party
Mercyhurst has 36 blocks as a team, led by a team-high eleven from Ufele. Eight other Lakers have recorded blocks on the season as well, including seven by Seager and six from McIntire.
NCAA Leaders
Bradley ranks 52nd in the country and is second in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 2.36. McIntosh ranks 93rd in free throw percentage averaging 83.7%.
Scouting The Rock (8-9, 4-7 PSAC)
Slippery Rock has split their previous six contests, which includes a tough and hard-fought 72-69 setback at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Saturday afternoon at the Sports Center. As a team they post 76.7 points per game and allow their opposition just under that mark at 75.9. The Rock shoot 45.1% from the floor, exactly 36% from beyond, and sit at 75% on the charity stripe. Slippery Rock grabs just shy of 40 rebounds per contest pulling down 39.9. They do a solid job of protecting the ball only turning it over 13.1 times per game and pick up 14.1 points off of their opponents 11.4 miscues. Three players will lead the attack for SRU led by Will Robinson Jr. and his team-best 19.6 ppg and 8.8 rebounds. Micah Till adds 17.6 per contest, while Jared Armstrong finishes off the group with 16.8. Till contributes 6.6 rebounds per game, followed by Deontae Robertson and his five. Ian Grady is at the head of The Rock for the second season.
On Deck - Back to the road
Mercyhurst heads out on the road for their next matchup when they head to California University of Pennsylvania for a contest against the Vulcans on Saturday at 3 pm.
