ERIE, Pa. - After starting the new decade with a bang on Friday night with a victory over Seton Hill University to start PSAC West play.  They return to the role of road warriors this week as they venture to nationally-ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania tomorrow night, before heading to Clarion University just two days later.

Game Information
Opponent - No. 9 IUP Crimson Hawks
Date - Monday, January 6
Time - 7:30 pm
Location - Indiana, Pa. (Kovalchick Athletic Complex)
Series History - IUP leads 27-12, (Lakers won last meeting 75-65 on 3/17/19 in 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament) 
Lakers Game Notes
Live Video
Live Stats
Tickets

Opponent - Clarion Golden Eagles
Date - Wednesday, January 8
Time - 7:30 pm
Location - Clarion, Pa. (Tippin Gymnasium)
Series History - Hurst leads 31-28, (Lakers won last meeting 88-42 on 2/6/19 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center)
Live Video
Live Stats
Ticket Info

Last Time Out
The Lakers took an early 10-0 leading on Friday thanks to back-to-back threes from Trystan Pratapas and buckets by MiyKah McIntosh and Joel Ufele.  Mercyhurst continued the pressure with another 10-0 run in the first half to lead by as many as 15 at 20-5 en route to a 37-19 advantage at the break.  Mercyhurst continued the dominance in the second half leading by over 20 as they cruised to the 73-58 victory.  McIntosh led the team with 18 points and as joined in double-figures by Pratapas with 14 and Michael Bradley chipping in 11.  Nicholas Lang and Ufele each added seven. 

Scouting the Lakers (6-4, 4-2 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst averages 78.5 points per game, while holding their opposition to 68.6.  Their +9.9 scoring margin ranks 60th nationally.  They are shooting right at 50% from the floor for the season, while they are 69.7% at the charity line.  The Lakers sit at 41.8% shooting outside the arc which is good for 10th in the country.  At the defensive end of the floor they are pulling in 32.5 rebounds, putting up just under seven steals per game, and are putting up 2.8 blocks.  

Protect the Ball
The Lakers have done an outstanding job of protecting the ball as their 117 turnovers on the season is good for tenth in the nation.  They are also 27th in the nation in turnovers per game with 11.7 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 14 of their last 19 games and six of the ten games this campaign.  Mercyhurst has allowed 70+ points four 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 and their last time out falling at ESU 83-64.

Bench Scoring is Huge
Mercyhurst continues to be strong even outside their starting lineup as they are outscoring their opponents 282-168 for a +114 scoring margin.

Sharing the Wealth 
McIntosh and Ufele are each averaging double-digits putting up 15.7 and 10.6 points per game.  Zach McIntire is next with 8.2 per game.  Cameron Gross, Pratapas and Lang are all putting up over seven per contest.  

Block Party
Mercyhurst has 28 blocks as a team, led by a team-high eleven from Ufele.  Five other Lakers have recorded blocks on the season as well, including six for Andrew Seager and five from McIntire.   

NCAA Leaders
Bradley ranks 25th in the country and is second in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 3.10.  McIntosh is 86th in free throw percentage averaging 84.8%.

Scouting the Crimson Hawks (10-1, 5-1 PSAC)
Indiana (Pa.) enters Monday with a perfect 7-0 mark at the Kovalchick Athletic Complex and just recently had a nine-game winning streak stopped by Shippensburg.  They recovered nicely their last time out by knocking off Lock Haven in a PSAC Crossover game by a score of 93-68.  The Crimson Hawks ranked ninth in the poll and are 10th in scoring defense holding opponents to 64.1 ppg, while scoring 83.2 putting thier scoring margin at a +19.1.  They 49.4% from the field, 73.3% on the line, and 33.1% outside the arc.  Defensively, as a team they grab 39.3 rebounds and 8.5 steals per contest, while forcing 17 turnovers resulting in over 21 points per game.  Three players put up double-digits led by Armoni Foster with 17.8.  He is followed by Tommy Demogerontas and Malik Miller with 16.8 and 16.9 respectively.  Demogerontas falls just shy of a double-double average as he is the Hawks leading rebounder with 9.0.  Multiple players contribute on the glass as well by bringing down more than five per contest.  Joe Lombardi leads Indiana for the 14th season.   

Scouting the Golden Eagles (2-10, 1-5 PSAC)
Clarion heads into the week losers of their last three games to Mansfield, Salem, and Slippery Rock.  Before, facing the Lakers on Wednesday they will head to Seton Hill on Monday night for a date with the Griffins.  As a team they are being outscored by over 12 points per game scoring 64.7 ppg, but allowing 77.3 to the competition.  The Golden Eagles are shooting 40.6% in the field, 34.1% from deep, and 61.5% at the charity stripe.  On the glass they haul in 36.3 per contest and have a -3.3 margin.  At the defensive end of the court Clarion is forcing 12.7 turnovers and 6.2 steals per game and are converting the opponent's turnovers into 11.1 points.  Four Golden Eagles average double-figures led by Stevan Rodriguez with 13.1, while Kaison Branch is just one point off the pace at 12.5.  Elijah Cottrill and Aaron Hilzendeger chip in 10.8 and 10.3.  Both James Price and Branch lead the side on the boards with each one pulling down 5.9.  Mraz tacks on 5.5 and Rodriguez adds just under five at 4.9.  Damian Pitts heads the Golden Eagles nest for the first year.

On Deck
Mercyhurst will return to the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on Saturday, January 11 for another East-West Crossover game when they entertain Kutztown University at 3pm.