ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's basketball will seek to rebound from their worst shooting output of the season Saturday in the loss at California (Pa.) when they welcome local counterpart Edinboro University to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Wednesday evening for Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division play.
Game Information
Opponent - Edinboro University Fighting Scots
Date - Wednesday, January 29
Time - 7:30 pm
Location - Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Athletic Center)
Series History - Boro leads 52-39, (Lakers won last meeting 85-62 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on 3/2/19)
Promotion - Academic Appreciation Night: Come join us as we celebrate all student-athletes with 3.0+ GPA from the Fall semester
Tickets
Game Notes
Live Stats
Live Video
Get Your Beer Here
Beer sales will be available to all patrons 21 years of age or older and will be sold at the stand located next to the concession stand in the Mercyhurst Hall of Fame area. Sales will begin 60-minutes prior to tipoff of the women's game and will stop midway through the second half of the men's contest.
Last Time Out
Mercyhurst for the third consecutive game were held to under 40% shooting from the field hitting on just 27.3% of their shots, while going 1-24 (4.2%) outside the arc in their 69-51 setback on Saturday at California (Pa.). The Lakers trailed just 10-7 early in the first half, but Vulcan runs of 13-4 and 15-4 staked the home side to a 37-17 edge after 20-minutes.
Michael Bradley and
Cameron Gross tried to keep the visitors afloat putting together a 7-2 push to cut the deficit to 44-26 five minutes in. After, Cal made it 47-26,
Zach McIntire attempted to work Mercyhurst back into the game netting seven points in an 11-0 romp to halve the margin to 47-37. However, that was the closest they would get as the Vulcans finished off the victory.
MiyKah McIntosh, McIntire, and Gross all had 11 points, with
Joel Ufele scoring 10.
Scouting the Lakers (10-7, 8-5 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst averages 73.9 points per game, while holding their opposition to 66.6 which is 23rd best in the country. Their +7.2 scoring margin ranks 69th nationally. They shoot 47.1% from the floor, while they are 73.2% at the charity line. After the rough day on Saturday from deep the Lakers are now at 39.3% shooting outside the arc which is now leaves them 29th in the nation and second in the conference. At the defensive end of the floor they are pulling in 31.4 rebounds, putting up just under seven steals per game with 6.8, and are averaging 2.2 blocks per game.
Protect the Ball
The Lakers have done a fantastic job of protecting the ball as their 177 turnovers on the season ranks second in the country and first in the PSAC. Mercyhurst is 11th nationally in average turnovers per game with 10.4 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 19 of their last 26 games and 11 of the 17 games this campaign. Mercyhurst has allowed 70+ points six 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, 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 427-276 for a +151 scoring margin.
Sharing the Wealth
McIntosh leads a duo of double-digit scorers with 13.9, followed by Gross who adds 10.8. McIntire chips in 9.2 per game, while Bradley and Ufele each puts up over eight per contest.
Nicholas Lang and
Trystan Pratapas both net six per game.
Block Party
Mercyhurst has 38 blocks as a team, led by a dozen from Ufele. Eight other Lakers have recorded blocks on the season as well, including seven by both
Andrew Seager and McIntire.
NCAA Leaders
Bradley ranks 51st in the country and is second in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 2.32.
Scouting the Fighting Scots (5-12, 2-11 PSAC)
Edinboro is trending in the wrong direction having dropped eight straight games, including a hand-fought 79-73 at Slippery Rock on Saturday. The Fighting Scots have just under a -12 scoring margin putting up 72.4 ppg, but allow 84 points to their competition. As a unit they shoot at a 41% clip to go along with 32.1% from deep and 75% at the foul line. Edinboro grabs 37.7 rebounds per game, however, they turn the ball over 15.5 times, while converting their opponents miscues into 9.9 ppg. Anthony Coleman is their leading scorer with 18.8 ppg. Jaryn Simpson (16.9) and Trey Staunch (14.4) join Coleman in double-figures. Daylon Harris adds 9.6, with Turner Kurt and Alex Jay each chipping in over six per contest. Staunch is the man to keep off the glass with his team-high 7.5 rebounds per game. Jay, Coleman, and Simpson each pull down over five per contest. Pat Cleary leads the Edinboro clan for the seventh season.
On Deck - Homestand wraps-up
Mercyhurst will begin their second trip through the PSAC West when they welcome nationally-ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Saturday at 3 pm.
