ERIE, Pa. - After winning their tenth straight game on Wednesday night 84-66 over the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in the PSAC West Quarterfinals, the Mercyhurst men's basketball team will head to East top-seed Shippensburg University for a matchup with the host Raiders on Saturday with a birth in the PSAC title game on the line.  

Game Information
Opponent - East No. 1 - Shippensburg University Raiders
Date - Saturday, March 7
Time - 3:30 pm
Location - Shippensburg, Pa. (Heiges Field House)
Series History - Series tied 5-5 (Ship won last meeting 62-60 on 12/29/18 in Shippensburg)
Lakers Notes
Live Stats
Live Video

Ticket Information
Adults - $10
Students - $5
Students from PSAC schools with ID - Free

Doors will open one hour before the first contest of the day.

Semifinal Schedule
Indiana (Pa.) vs East Stroudsburg - 1 pm
LAKERS vs. RAIDERS - 3:30 pm

Last Time Out - LAKERS 84, Mountain Cats 64 (PSAC Quarterfinal - 3/4/20)
Mercyhurst got early triples from MiyKah McIntosh, Zach McIntire, and Nicholas Lang to lead 12-8 just 4:31 in.  UPJ brought the gap down to 16-15, before Trystan Pratapas and Michael Bradley each buried a three pushing the gap to 24-19.  However, Marcin Wiszomirski scored six straight to put the 'Cats on top, 25-24.  The Lakers continued the barrage from deep with treys by McIntosh and Lang to regain the six-point edge, 33-27.  Joe Batt drilled a triple to slow the home roll, but it was short-lived as the Lakers closed on a 13-2 charge to lead 46-32 at half.  Caiden Landis sparked an early 7-2 push for UPJ to close within 48-39 and Batt hit two three-pointers to make it 51-45 with five minutes gone.  Cannady, Lang and Bradley went on a 13-4 run stretching the margin to 64-49.  Mercyhurst continued to hold UPJ at bay the remainder of the game crusing to the 84-66 win.  McIntosh posted a career-high 27 points, while McIntire (17), Bradley (16) and Lang (12) joined him in double-digits.  McIntire also grabbed a team-high seven boards.  

Scouting the Lakers (20-7, 17-5 PSAC)
Team Numbers
Mercyhurst averages 74.4 points per game, while holding their opposition to 63.3 which is 6th in the country and first in the conference.  Their +11.1 scoring margin ranks 25th nationally.  They shoot 47.2% from the floor, while they are 71.1% at the charity line.  The Lakers are shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc leaving them tenth in the country and are the PSAC best.  At the defensive end of the floor they are pulling in 32.2 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 are one of the top teams in the nation at holding onto the ball as they have committed 274 good for fifth in the country (10.3 per game) turnovers for the season, while forcing 14.4 out of their opponents per game resulting in 17.8 points. 

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 29 of their last 36 games and 21 of the 27 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 611-423 for a +188 scoring margin.  

Sharing the Wealth 
The Lakers have three players averaging double-digits led by McIntosh with 14.5, followed by McIntire at 10.8 and Gross with 10.6.  Bradley is netting 9.1 per game.  Joel Ufele, Cannady and Lang each are averaging over six per game. 

Block Party
Mercyhurst has 56 blocks as a team after recording two more on Wednesday, led by a 16 from Ufele.  Eight other Lakers have recorded blocks on the season as well, including ten from McIntire and nine by Andrew Seager.   

NCAA Leaders
Bradley ranks 28th in the country and second in the PSAC in assist-turnover ratio posting a 2.59.

All-Conference Selections
The Lakers had two players earn spots on the PSAC West All-Conference team.  McIntosh earned First Team honors, while Gross was placed on Second Team.  Mercyhurst head coach Gary Manchel was selected as the PSAC West Coach of the Year.

Scouting the Raiders (23-6, 18-4 PSAC)
Shippensburg enters Saturday winners of their last three after holding off a very game Millersville University side on Wednesday night in the Quarterfinals 69-66 at home.  The Raiders earned the top seed on the East side of the bracket after a 23-6 regular season and an 18-4 mark in PSAC play.  As a team they are shooting 43.4% in the field, 35.7% outside the arc and 78.3% on the charity stripe.  Ship holds a +10.9 scoring margin dropping 78.9 per game, allowing 68 to the opposition.  They will also look to dominate the glass outrebouding their opponents 42.1 to 34.6.  The Raiders are a little looser with the ball then the Lakers turning it over 12.3 times per contest, however, it only is resulting in 10.8 opponent points.  Three players average double-figures for Shiip led by PSAC West Player of the Year Jake Biss who scores 16.2 ppg, while John Castello (14.7) and Carlos Carter (11.0) join him in double-digits.  Dom Sleva is just off the mark at 9.8, followed by 8.9 for Luke Nedrow.  Castello is their leading rebounder grabbing 9.3 boards with Sleva adding 6.8.  Chris Fite is the head coach of the Raiders.

On Deck - Who Knows?
With a win the Lakers would move on to Sunday's title game where the winner of Indiana (Pa.) and East Stroudsburg would await still at Shippensburg with tip set for 3pm.  A loss would have Mercyhurst waiting until Sunday night to see if they earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament with the selection show set for 10:30pm.