Lock Haven, Pa. - Basketball is right around the corner and with that, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference releases their men's basketball preseason poll with the Lakers coming in at 3rd in the West.
Mercyhurst comes off a season in which they finished 25-6 while making their way to the finale of the conference tournament before a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament, giving them their second-straight season with 20 or more wins and fourth in five seasons. They'll look to have similar success this time around and win 20 or more game for a third-straight campaign for the first time in Head Coach Gary Manchel's tenure.
The Lakers return seven players from the 2022-23 roster, hoping their experience shines through. Of those returners is PSAC West First Team member, Jeff Planutis. Planutis averaged 14.7 points per game last year for the second best on the team while shooting 46.6% from the floor, 42.9% from deep, and 86.6% from the free throw line. He is joined by junior big man Aidan Reichert who played a big role coming off the bench. Reichert played in all 31 games on the season with him scoring 9.3 points per game with a 55.2% field goal percentage and a 38.9% three-point percentage.
Mercyhurst adds six newcomers to the team this season with each looking to leave their mark for the Lakers in the early going. Of that group, four enter the 2023-24 season as freshman with Max Jusianiec and James Thomas coming in as transfers. Jusianiec, a native of Alfred, N.Y., previously played his freshman season at the College of Saint Rose where he averaged 11 points per game while shooting 43.1% from the floor, 38.5% from three, and 88.9% from the free throw line. He'll look to carry last year's strong performance to Erie and help the Lakers remain their position as one of the top teams in the conference.
The Lakers open their season in sunshine state as they travel to Lakeland, Fl. for the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic on November 4th and 5th. They see their friendly confines for the first time on the 15th of November when they host Daemen at 7:30 p.m. before beginning their PSAC schedule on the road against East Stroudsburg on December 1st.
For a look at the full rankings, click here.
