ERIE, Pa. - After getting back on track Wednesday with a comfortable win over the visitors from Edinboro University, the Mercyhurst men's basketball team will go in search of a signature win on Saturday when they entertain fifth-ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division action.

Game Information 
Opponent - No. IUP Crimson Hawks
Date - Saturday, February 1
Time - 3:00 pm
Location - Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Athletic Center)
Series History - IUP leads 28-12, (Hawks won last meeting 71-56 at the KCAC on 1/6/20)
Promotion - National Women's in Sports Day (click here for info)  
Lakers Notes
Tickets
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 Meeting vs IUP - Crimson Hawks 71, LAKERS 56 (1/6/20)
Mercyhurst was done in by the foul line as IUP went 22-31 at the charity stripe, while the Lakers were just 6-7.  Mercyhurst led early in the first half 7-4 thanks to buckets from Michael Bradley and MiyKah McIntosh.  The Crimson Hawks came back with a 7-0 charge and then a 5-2 push later in the frame helped the host get ahead by ten, 38-28 at the break.  It would take over two minutes for the Lakers to get on the board when Bradley hit a driving layup, unfortunately, flights of 8-0 and 7-0 were enough to push the Hawks over the finish line for the 71-56 win.  McIntosh had 13 to lead Mercyhurst, while Cameron Gross netted 10.  Trystan Pratapas and Zach McIntire added nine and eight respectively.  Gross had a team-high seven boards.  

Last Time Out - LAKERS 93, Edinboro 56 (1/29/20)
Mercyhurst trailed just one time and put four players in double-figures as the Lakers cruised past Edinboro at home on Wednesday night.  In the first half Turner Kurt gave the guests a 2-0 edge, before the hosts went on a 21-2 rampage thanks to Nicholas Lang, Gross, Bradley, and McIntosh.  Later in the frame a 7-2 run finished off by Gross opened the lead to over 20 at 31-10.  Edinboro cut the deficit to 39-21, but it Pratapas and Bradley pushed the home side back ahead 46-23 at half.  In the second, Mercyhurst used runs of 8-3, 9-0, and 12-0 to close out the easy 93-56 victory.  McIntosh had 20 to lead the team, followed by Gross (15), Bradley (12), and Andrew Seager (10).  Gross finished off the double-double grabbing a team-high 10 boards.   

Scouting the Lakers (11-7, 9-5 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst averages 74.9 points per game, while holding their opposition to 66.3 which is 17th in the country.  Their +8.9 scoring margin ranks 49th nationally.  They shoot 47.2% from the floor, while they are 72.7% at the charity line.  The Lakers had a solid day from beyond the arc shooting 35.1% leaving them 37th in the nation and second in the conference.  At the defensive end of the floor they are pulling in 31.8 rebounds, putting up just under seven steals per game with 7.2, and are averaging 2.3 blocks per game.  

Protect the Ball
The Lakers have done a fantastic job of protecting the ball as their 183 turnovers on the season ranks second in the country and first in the PSAC.  Mercyhurst is 10th nationally in average turnovers per game with 10.2 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 20 of their last 27 games and 12 of the 18 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 459-295 for a +164 scoring margin.

Sharing the Wealth 
McIntosh paces a duo of double-digit scorers with 14.3 ppg, followed by 11.0 for Gross.  McIntire falls off the pace a little bit averaging 9.2 per contest, while Joel Ufele and Bradley are each contributing over eight per game.  Pratapas chips in 6.4, with Steve Cannady and Lang both putting up 5.9.  

Block Party
Mercyhurst has 42 blocks as a team, led by a 14 from Ufele.  Eight other Lakers have recorded blocks on the season as well, including eight from Seager and seven by McIntire.   

NCAA Leaders
Bradley ranks 28th in the country and is tops in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 2.60. 

Scouting the Crimson Hawks (18-1, 13-1 PSAC) 
Indiana (Pa.) arrives in Erie flying-high having won nine consecutive games after running away from Seton Hill on Wednesday night 92-65.  The Crimson Hawks sit 15th nationally in scoring defense allowing just 65.8 ppg, while scoring 84.1 ppg.  Their +18.3 scoring margin is good for ninth in Division II.  They are a strong shooting team knocking down 49.4% from the field, 75.8% on the charity line, and are at 35.4% outside the arc.  IUP is holding their opponents to a 39.6% shooting clip which is seventh in the country.  Mercyhurst will need to slow down the duo of Malik Miller and Armoni Foster who each put up over 18 points per game and in particular Miller who went for 32 against Seton Hill.  Tommy Demogerontas adds 16.8, while Dave Morris, Shawndale Jones along with Ethan Porterfield each chip in over nine.  Demogerontas is their leading rebounder with nine, followed by Chucky Humphries who grabs 6.3 per game.  Joe Lombardi is in his 14th season at the head of the nest for IUP.  

On Deck
The Lakers will head to Greensburg, Pa. on Wednesday night for a matchup against Seton Hill University at 7:30 pm.