MERCYHURST (17–16, 10-8 NEC) at LIU (23 – 10, 15 – 3 NEC)
Tuesday, March 10 - 7:00 p.m. EST
Steinberg Wellness Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
TV: ESPN2

• The Matchup
The Mercyhurst men's basketball team will travel to LIU to meet the Sharks for the NEC Championship in their first year of NEC post-season tournament eligibity. The Lakers first hosted no. 6 seed FDU Wednesday March 4, in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center where they won 70-61. Two upset wins in the conference by Wagner and Stonehill put the Lakers in the position to host Stonehill on their home court Saturday, March 7 at 12:00 p.m. where they won 56- 52 in a defensive matchup. Their win, along by a win by no. 1 seed LIU, catapulted the two to the championship game scheduled for Tuesday March 10 at 7:00 p.m. The Sharks' no. 1 seed put them in the position to host. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST. at the Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Lakers will meet the Sharks for the third time this season, most recently seeing them February 21 at home where they won 91-83.

• The Opponent
The Sharks are coached by Rod Strickland who is in his fourth season with the team. Strickland has led his team to an 23- 10 overall record and 15-3 NEC record this season. The Sharks come into the championship game after hosting and winning against no. 8 seed Chicago State and no. 7 seed Wagner. The Sharks have not made an NEC Championship appearance since the 2017-2018 season. The Sharks are led by guard Jamal Fuller who averages 16.6 points per game. Fuller shoots 52.4% from the floor and 43.8% from beyond the arc. Greg Gordon leads the Sharks in rebounds averaging 5.6 per game and steals averaging 1.8 per game. Gordon shoots 56.3% from the field and averages 13.8 points per game. Malachi Davis is second in points per game for the Sharks averaging 14.1. Davis shoots 31.1% from three averaging four 3-point attempts per game. Davis also leads the team in assists with 3.4 per game. Shadrak Lasu leads the team in blocks averaging 1.5 per game.

• Last Time Out
Mercyhurst most recently met the Stonehill Skyhawks in the NEC semifinal where they won 56-51. Cameron Johnson led the Lakers in points tallying 17. Johnson shot 7-11 from the field and 3-4 from three. Johnson also grabbed five rebounds. 

Bernie Blunt III continued to pace the Lakers scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Blunt also dished one assist and had two steals.

Jake Lemelman continued to stay in double digit scoring for the Lakers notching ten points. Lemelman also grabbed two rebounds and dished 1 assist.

Qadir Martin continued his defensive consistency grabbing a team-high nine boards and recording three blocks while scoring eight points.

• Clutch Cam
Cameron Johnson came up big off the bench for the Lakers starting against the Skyhawks. Johnson, despite only averaging 3.0 points per game before Saturday, started and played 29 minutes against the Skyhawks, scoring a team and season-high 17 points and grabbing five rebounds. Johnson shot 75% from downtown and 63.6% from the field.

• Down to the Wire
The Lakers know how to put on a show. 14 out of 18 conference games this season have been withing nine points or less. 11 out of 18 conference game have been within four points or less, and eight out 18 conference games have been within one possession.

• Money Martin
Forward Qadir Martin scored 18+ points and secured 5+ rebounds in four out of his last five in conference appearances. Martin is also an NCAA leader in blocks. Martin sits tied for fifth Division I in blocks with 80 on the season, and tenth in blocks per game averaging 2.42. Martin sits at the top of the leader board in field goal percentage in NEC play shooting 60.9% from the field and averages 11.3 points per game. Martin's performance this season landed him a spot on the All-NEC Defensive team.

• Bernie Buckets
Bernie Blunt III paved the way for the Lakers this season, leading the team in points per game, threes per game, field goals per game, and free throw percentage. His performance landed him on the All-NEC First Team. Blunt III ended the regular season averaging 17.4 points per game, putting him third in the NEC overall. Blunt III is second in the NEC in free throws, making 86.3% of shots from the charity stripe. Blunt III shoots 41.4% from the field, shoots 34.5% from beyond the arc, and averages 2.2 assists per game and 1.2 steals.

• Leader Lemelman
Jake Lemelman has shown up big in his second year with the Lakers, leading the Lakers and earning spots on the NEC leader board. Lemelman sits at ninth overall in scoring and seventh in field goal percentage in the NEC averaging 14.0 points per game and shooting 43.4% from the field. Lemelman also sits at eighth in assists averaging 3.0 per game and averages 1.2 steals. His performances this season landed him a spot on the All-NEC third team.

• Honorable Mention
Mykolas Ivanauskas and Deshaun Jackson Jr. also sit at the top of the Laker leader board. Ivanauskas shoots 56.1% from the field and is second in rebounds averaging 5.2 boards per game. Jackson Jr. sits at the top of the leader board in assists with 96 on the season and 2.9 per game, and steals averaging 1.1 per game.

• A Look at the Series
The Lakers are 2-2 overall when facing the Sharks. The Lakers are 2-0 at home and 0-2 on the road, going 1-1 with the Sharks in both the 24-25 and 25-26 seasons.