MERCYHURST (7–11, 2–3 NEC) vs CCSU (10–6, 4–1 NEC)
Monday, January 19– 2:00 p.m. EST
Mercyhurst Athletic Center, Erie, Pa.
TV: NECFrontRow

Mercyhurst will continue their home series Monday for a weekday NEC matchup as they host CCSU. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Mercyhurst will host the Blue Devils after meeting the Skyhawks of Stonehill Saturday where they fell 57-62 in overtime. The Lakers and Blue Devils will meet for the third time in the programs history, with live coverage available on NECFrontRow.

Last Time Out
Mercyhurst most recently met NEC foe Stonehill Saturday, January 17. The Lakers and Skyhawks played a competitive matchup, the score being ties 12 times and Stonehill ultimately forcing overtime. Stonehill was able to find momentum in the five minute overtime, outscoring the Lakers 7-2 and winning 62-57. The Lakers put up over 60 shots in the matchup, but shots weren't falling as they only shot 35.3% from the field and 18.2% from three.

Qadir Martin paced the Lakers scoring a team high 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Jake Lemelman also made a difference for the Lakers scoring 13 points, adding 4 assists, and grabbing a career-high seven rebounds. Bernie Blunt III grabbed 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Mykolas Ivanauskas scored six points and grabbed 3 rebounds.

Laker Leaders
Blunt III is third in the NEC in points per game averaging 15.9. He is seventh in FG% averaging 42.8%, second in free throw% averaging 82.7%, and is eighth in 3-PT field goals per game averaging 1.9.

Lemelman is ninth in the NEC in assists averaging 2.9. per game. Lemelman is also sixth in steals averaging 1.4 per game.

Martin is first in the NEC in blocks averaging 2.6 per game and is eighth in rebounds averaging 6.3 per game.

The Matchup: CCSU
A Look at the Series CCSU is coached by Patrick Sellers who is in his fifth season with the Blue Devils and has an overall record of 73-70. He graduated from CCSU in 1991 and served as an assistant coach from 1993-2003 before starting a long tenure as an assistant coach at seven other collegiate institutions. 

CCSU enters Monday's matchup with a 10-6 overall record and 4-1 mark in NEC play, their only loss coming from conference leaders LIU. Since facing LIU in their conference opener, they have gone on a four game win streak, outlasting opponents Le Moyne, New Haven, Stonehill, and St. Francis.

The Blue Devils played a competitive nonconference schedule, finding big wins against Boston College, Rutgers, and Sacred Heart. They currently sit at first in the NEC in points per game, FG%, 3PT FG%, assists per game, and turnovers per game. They shoot 48.5% from the field and 39.6% from beyond the arc.

The Blue Devils are led in points by sophomore forward Darin Smith Jr. Smith also leads the NEC in points per game averaging 21.1 and free throw percentage making 87.7% of free throws. Smith shoots 48.3% from the field which puts him fourth in the NEC.

Jay Rodgers leads the NEC and the Blue Devils in assists, averaging 7.6 per game. Melo Sanchez leads in 3PT% shooting 46.6% beyond the arc. Max Frazier leads CCSU in blocks and is second in the conference behind Mercyhurst's Martin. He averages 1.9 blocks per game.

The Lakers and Blue Devils have met twice in program history. The Lakers fell in both matches last season. They met the Blue Devils for the first time in Erie on January 5, 2025 and fell 50-62. The Lakers then traveled to New Britain Connecticut February 13, 2025 where they fell 63-73. They will meet again this season in the Laker's second to last regular season matchup.