ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's basketball team will look to take the upper hand in the battle for the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament when they host the Mountain Cats of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Wednesday night at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.  

Opponent - Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats
Date - Wednesday, January 15
Time - 7:30 pm
Location - Johnstown, Pa. (Sports Center)
Series History - Series is even at 24-24, (Lakers won last meeting 82-74 on 1/15/20 in Johnstown)
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Game Notes
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Last Meeting - LAKERS 82, Mountain Cats 74
Mercyhurst put five players in double-figures led by Cameron Gross who netted a season-high 26 points as the Lakers knocked off UPJ 82-74.  The Mountain Cats jumped out quick with Caiden Landis, Josh Wise, and Marcin Wiszomirski staked them out to a 14-4 lead.  Zach McIntire, Steve Cannady, MiyKah McIntosh, and Gross brought the visitors back to within 16-14 at the halfway point of the first.  The Lakers would get the score tied three times, before outscoring the 'Cats 9-8 over the final five minutes to lead 31-30 at half.  Mercyhurst looked to gain control as Nicholas Lang and Gross led a 6-0 push to make it 37-30.  They would lead by ten (43-33), but a 10-4 charge by UPJ closed the gap to 47-43.  The Mountain Cats continued their climb back into the game and eventually drew even at 58-58 with eight minutes to go.  However, an 8-4 run headed by McIntire put the guests in front to stay as Mercyhurst finished off the 82-74 victory.  Michael Bradley and McIntire had 13 apiece, while McIntosh and Lang added 10 each.  Gross had a team-high nine boards.  

Last Time Out - LAKERS 56, Golden Knights 51 (2/12/20)
Mercyhurst relied on 13 triples to stave off the host Gannon University Golden Knights 56-51 in round two of the Porreco Pride of Erie Games at the Hammermill Center last Wednesday.  Gannon got out to a 13-3 lead, before McIntire, McIntosh, Lang, and Gross answered with a 13-3 charge to knot the game 16-16.  The game would be tied two more times prior to halftime, before a 9-4 visitor push had the Lakers on top 32-27 at half.  The Golden Knights came out of the break strong as DeAnte Cisero scored eight points during an 8-3 run to level the contest 35-35.  Gannon would continue their push as they held a slim 44-42 edge at the halfway point.  Mercyhurst rallied back with a 7-1 sprint to seize the 49-45 lead with 4:30 remaining.  Matt Johnson and Cisero brought the host back to even at 51-51, before McIntosh knocked home four free throws down the stretch to help the Lakers seal the 56-51 win.  McIntosh had 16 points to lead the team.  Cannady added 10, while the trio of Gross, Lang and McIntire combined for 25.     

Scouting the Lakers (15-7, 13-5 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst averages 74.0 points per game, while holding their opposition to 63.0 which is 6th in the country and tops in the PSAC.  Their +11.0 scoring margin ranks 28th nationally.  They shoot 47.1% from the floor, while they are 71.7% at the charity line.  The Lakers are shooting 40.5% from beyond the arc leaving them 13th in the country and first in the conference.  At the defensive end of the floor they are pulling in 31.6 rebounds, putting up just over seven steals per game with 7.4, in addition to 2.0 blocks per game.  

Protect the Ball
The Lakers are the best team in the nation at holding onto the ball as they have committed a nation-best 225 turnovers for the season, while forcing 14.8 out of their opponents per game. 

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 24 of their last 31 games and 16 of the 22 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 522-331 for a +191 scoring margin.  After outscoring Gannon 10-0 off the bench on Wednesday night.

Sharing the Wealth 
The Lakers have three players averaging double-digits led by McIntosh with 13.7, followed by Gross at 10.5 and McIntire with 10.1.  Bradley is netting 9.0 per game.  Joel Ufele chips in 7.3, while Trystan Pratapas, Lang and Cannady each drop over six. 

Block Party
Mercyhurst has 45 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 27th in the country and is second in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 2.62.

Postseason Push
With a win the Lakers would control their destiny to earning the second seed and a first round bye in the upcoming PSAC Tournament.  With a loss they could fall back into a tie with Cal U depending on the outcome of the Vulcans game against Seton Hill.

Scouting the Mountain Cats (20-6, 14-5 PSAC)
Pitt-Johnstown comes to Erie winners of five of their previous seven after taking down Clarion University at home on Saturday afternoon by a final of 78-52.  As a unit they are shooting a fantastic 51% from the floor, 38.2% outside the arc and are 76% on the charity line.  UPJ holds a +8.8 scoring margin putting up 82.5 ppg, while only giving up 73.7 to the competition.  They have a strong willingness to share the ball as they average just under 20 assists per game at 19.5.  The 'Cats cough the ball up 14 times per contest which results in 14.4 opponent points.  John Paul Kromka heads a three-headed scoring monster with 14.9 ppg, followed in double-digits by Josh Wise (12.3) and Caiden Landis (11.5).  The trio of Drew Magestro, Fred Mulbah, and Joe Batt each average over nine per game.  Kromka is the leading rebounder grabbing 8.0 per game, while Landis and Wise haul in over four each.  Bob Rukavina is in his 31st season at the helm of Pitt-Johnstown.

On Deck - Another Local Rival
Mercyhurst returns to action on Saturday, February 22nd when they visit Edinboro to battle the Fighting Scots with tip set for 3pm.  The Lakers won the previous meeting 93-56 at the MAC in late January.