ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's basketball team will look to create some separation in the PSAC West standings when they travel down State Street to take on rival Gannon University in the second installment of the Porreco Pride of Erie Cup on Wednesdday night at the Hammermill Center.
Game Information
Opponent - Gannon University Golden Knights
Date - Wednesday, February 12
Time - 7:30 pm
Location - Erie, Pa. (Hammermill Center)
Series History - Gannon leads 53-25, (Lakers won last meeting 58-55 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on 1/18/20)
Lakers Game Notes
Live Stats
Watch (Gannon broadcast)
Audio (Mercyhurst broadcast)
Hometown Broadcast
The above audio link will direct you to a Mercyhurst-centered broadcast as you can listen to Jack Angelucci and Mitchell Smith bring you all the action from the Hammermill Center.
Last Meeting vs. Gannon - LAKERS 58, Golden Knights 55 (1/18/20)
Mercyhurst fell behind early 6-2, but quickly closed the gap to 15-14 on buckets from
Cameron Gross,
MiyKah McIntosh, and
Nicholas Lang. However, Gannon used a 9-0 push to lead by 10, before the Lakers closed the opening 20 with a 10-2 run to trail just barely 26-24 at half. The Golden Knights opened their advantage out to 31-24 early in the second, before a 12-0 home rampage put them in front 36-31. Gannon would fight back to even the score at 44-44 with eight minutes left. The game would go back-and-forth with the hosts leading 55-52 under a minute to go, but an old-fashioned three point play for Matt Johnson knotted the score at 55 with 12-seconds remaining. The game would then end like this.
Last Time Out - LAKERS 86, Clarion 44 (2/8/20)
Mercyhurst came out flying with threes from
Michael Bradley, McIntosh, and Lang aided by foul shots for
Zach McIntire had the hosts up 13-2. Clarion would use three different scorers to close within 17-9, but an 8-2 charge led by
Joel Ufele and Pratapas had it to 25-11. From there the Lakers ended the half in front 39-17. Mercyhurst continued to distance themselves early in the second as Gross and Bradley extended the advantage to 44-21. Runs of 8-2 and 7-3 the rest of the way helped the Lakers to cruise to the 86-44 victory. McIntire led the team with 18, while being joined in double-figures by Lang (16) and Pratapas (14). Gross had a team-high five boards.
Scouting the Lakers (14-7, 12-5 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst averages 74.8 points per game, while holding their opposition to 63.5 which is 6th in the country and tops in the PSAC. Their +11.3 scoring margin ranks 29th nationally. They shoot 47.6% from the floor, while they are 72.1% at the charity line. The Lakers are shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc leaving them 17th in the nation and first in the conference. At the defensive end of the floor they are pulling in 31.8 rebounds, putting up just over seven steals per game with 7.3, in addition to 2.1 blocks per game.
Protect the Ball
The Lakers have done an outstanding job of holding onto the ball as their 210 turnovers on the season ranks third in the country and second in the PSAC. Mercyhurst is ninth nationally in average turnovers per game with 10.0 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 23 of their last 30 games and 15 of the 21 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 in a 71-56 loss, 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 512-331 for a +181 scoring margin.
Sharing the Wealth
The Lakers have three players averaging double-digits led by McIntosh with 13.6, followed by Gross at 10.6 and McIntire with 10.2. Bradley is putting up over nine per contest at 9.1. Ufele chips in 7.7, while Lang and Pratapas each drop over six.
Block Party
Mercyhurst has 44 blocks as a team, led by a 14 from Ufele. Eight other Lakers have recorded blocks on the season as well, including eight each from Seager and McIntire.
NCAA Leaders
Bradley ranks 24th in the country and is tops in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 2.74.
Scouting the Golden Knights (12-9, 11-6 PSAC)
After dropping games to Mercyhurst and California (Pa.) in the middle of January the Golden Knights have reeled off five-straight after knocking off Seton Hill away from home 82-76. Gannon is shooting 44.9% from the field, 38.7% outside the arc and a solid 76.3% at the charity line. They are holding a +2.6 scoring margin scoring 70.1 points per game, while allowing 67.5 to the competition. Gannon is turning the ball over 14 times a contest resulting in 13.5 opponent points. The Golden Knights possess a balanced attack headed up by four player who average double-figures as DeAnte Cisero leads them with 13.4, followed by Frank Webb Jr. (12.4), Chris Clancy (10.5), and Matt Johnson (10.1). Cisero is also their leading rebounder at 5.6, while Kevin Dodds and Webb both grab over five per game.
Postseason Push
The Lakers currently sit in thrid in the PSAC West standings and are just one game behind second-place Pitt-Johnstown, but are only one game ahead of fifth-place Gannon.
On Deck - A well deserved rest
Mercyhurst will take the weekend off, before returning to action on Wednesday, February 19 when they will entertain the Mountain Cats of Pitt-Johnstown at 7:30 pm.
