MERCYHURST (9–11, 4–3 NEC) vs CHICAGO STATE (2–18, 0–7 NEC)
Sunday, January 25– 2:00 p.m. EST
Mercyhurst Athletic Center, Erie, Pa.
TV: NECFrontRow
Stats: https://hurstathletics.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

Mercyhurst will come back home Sunday as they host Chicago State in an NEC matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers will meet the Cougars after most recently coming off a road win as they faced New Haven for the first time in program history. The Lakers won the game 61-57. The Lakers and Cougars met twice last season, each team winning on their home court. Live coverage will be available on NECFrontRow.

Last Time Out
Mercyhurst most recently met new NEC contender New Haven. The Lakers battled for the win as the score was tied nine times and the lead changed 11 times. The Lakers shooting made the difference as they shot 49.0% from the field, 42.9% from three and 100.0% from the free throw line. They also scored 14 points off turnovers.

Qadir Martin led the Lakers in the matchup. Martin went 8-12 from the field, scored a team high 16 points, had three blocks, and snatched four rebounds. 

Bernie Blunt III continued to be effective on the court for the Lakers, scoring 15 points and shooting 50.0% from three. 

Jake Lemelman came in clutch for the Lakers in the final seconds, pulling up and making a mid-range jumper to put the Lakers up two. He scored 14 points, shot 50.0% from three, and picked up two assists. 

Sean Lang and Deshaun Jackson Jr. also showed up big for the Lakers in the matchup. Lang picked up a team high six rebounds, while Jackson picked up four rebounds, added four assists, and scored six points. Two of Jackson's points came in the final seconds as he made both of his free throws to seal the deal for the Lakers in Connecticut. 

Laker Leaders 
Blunt III is fourth in the NEC in points per game averaging 16.1. He is sixth in FG% shooting 43.5%, second in free throw% shooting 84.1%, and is eighth in 3-PT field goals per game averaging 2.0 per game. 

Lemelman is twelfth in the NEC in points per game averaging 13.1, eighth in FG% shooting 42.8% and eighth in assists averaging 3.0 per game. Lemelman is also eighth 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 6.4 per game.

Jackson Jr. has also gotten his name on the NEC leader board sitting at ninth in assists averaging 2.9 per game.

The Matchup: Chicago State
Chicago State enters Sunday's matchup 2-18 overall and 0-7 in NEC play. They found their two wins this season against Saint Xavier University and Loyola Chicago. Their closest matchup in conference play this season came on the road at Stonehill, where they went into overtime and lost by three points.

The Cougars  played a competitive non-conference schedule, playing high ranking Division I teams like Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Youngstown, and Illinois. They opened conference play at home where they hosted Wagner and fell 72-79.

The Cougars are led in points by Doyel Cockrill III who averages 13.3 points per game, Marcus Tankersley who averages 13.0 points per game, and CJ Ray who averages 12.5 points per game. 

Ray shoots 41.6% from the field and averages a team high 4.1 rebounds per game. Cockrill III shoots 43.2% from the field, 43.2% from three, and 82.5% from the free throw line. Tankersley shoots 44.5% from the field and averages  2 assists per game. 

Cockrill III is eleveth in points per game and fourth in 3PT field goals per game in the NEC. Braelon Bush is seventh in the NEC in assists, averaging 3.1 per game, while Tankersley is fifth in field goal percentage.

The Cougars are coached by head coach Landon Bussie who is in his first year with Chicago State. He previously coached at Alcorn where he was the head coach for five seasons. 

The Lakers and Cougars are 1-1 overall.