Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst men's basketball comes into the new week just under .500 on the season, setting at 9-11 after dropping their two games this past week. The team has a full docket to close out January and begin February as they see Clarion on Monday, January 29th, followed by Slippery Rock on the road on the 31st. They then stay away from their friendly confines to begin the new month with the team playing Pitt-Johnstown on the 3rd in a 3:00 p.m. tip-off.

Laker Leaders

Jeff Planutis continues to lead the team in points with 17.3 per game while shooting 43% from the floor, 38.8% from three and 85.1% from the free throw line. The graduate guard has 15 games of 10 or more points so far this season with eight of those coming in a row, scoring 20 or more four times over that span. Aidan Reichert's mark of 5.8 rebounds per game is the most on the team with his 12 rebounds in his last game being a season-high for the team and new career-high for the Jackson Center, Oh. native. Planutis leads the way outright in both assists (2.4) and steals (1.6) per game while being tied alongside Max Jusianiec and Sean Fullerton for blocks (0.4).

Scouting the Golden Eagles

Clarion is 6-12 to this point in the season, holding onto seventh place in the PSAC West. The team has hit a rough patch here of late as they have dropped each of their last four games, losing by double-digits in a trio of those contests including a 64-54 loss to Slippery Rock their last time out. The Golden Eagles have been surprisingly resilient on the road, going 4-5 in away games compared to their 2-7 mark at home but have had a tougher time of late, winning just one of their last five tries on the road. Clarion has had a balanced attack on offense with four players scoring in double figures with Cam Kearney being the team's leader, scoring 15.1 points per game on a 41.7/37.5/83.7 shooting split.

Scouting Slippery Rock

The Rock is 8-10 to this point in the year overall and hold a 6-6 mark in the PSAC to be tied for third in the PSAC West alongside Seton Hill. Slippery Rock has been one of the better teams in the conference on their own floor to this point in the year, owning a 7-1 record when at home with a 95-90 overtime loss to Gannon on January 17th being their only defeat. The team has proved to be stellar on defense to this point in the season as they allow opponents to shoot only 42.5% from the field for second in the PSAC while their 40.2 rebounds per game are the most. Austin Maceo has been the team's top performer of late as he has won the PSAC West Defensive Athlete of the Week two out of the last three weeks while scoring 20 or more points in three of his last six games, making him a threat on both ends.

Scouting Pitt-Johnstown

The Mountain Cats are 5-14 to this point in the season with a 3-10 mark in the conference, sitting in last place in the PSAC West. They have found it tough sledding of late as UPJ has dropped each of their last seven games with the last meeting between these to teams kicking off that stretch as the Lakers won 64-57 on the home floor on January 6th. The team has four players averaging 10 or more points per game with Andy Zuchelli owning the high-point mark of 14.1. Zuchelli has been playing well of late with five games of double-digit points in his last six tries, scoring 20 or more three times in that stretch including a season-high 28 against Clarion in a game in which he made six threes.

Next Game

Mercyhurst begins the first full week of February with IUP on Wednesday, February 7th, at 7:30 p.m. for their lone game on the week. They then resume competition on the 14th when they make the trip to Edinboro to see the Scots on the 14th before coming back home for Seton Hill on the 17th at 3:00 p.m.