How to Follow: Fans that cannot make the trek to Indiana, Pa. can follow the action from the comfort from their home on the PSAC Sports Digital Network. Chuck Seese will call the action live from the KCAC on Bigfoot Poconos 103.1 FM/840 AM and online at bigfootpoconos.com. Live stats for all games will be available via iupathletics.com.
The Series: ESU holds a 10-4 edge in the all-time series with Mercyhurst, including an 85-72 upset of the No. 3 Lakers last year on the road on Dec, 19, 2021. The Warriors have won the past two contests in 2021-22 in and 2019-20. It will be the first contest between programs in the NCAA Tournament, but Saturday’s contest will be the fourth overall postseason meetings between squads, with the Warriors holding a 2-1 edge in the PSAC Tournament.
About the Warriors: ESU will look to control tempo of the matchup, which the Lakers’ offensive style drastically differs between the Warriors’ fast-paced full-court press defense into instant offense. Both ESU and Mercyhurst look to bounce back from a loss against host IUP, with the Warriors falling by three and the Lakers fell to the Crimson Hawks by a single point. Lakeem McAliley paced the squad with 19 points against IUP, while Carlos Pepin posted his 14th double-double in 31 games this season. The Warriors have won four of the past five contests entering the NCAA First Round contest and seek its third consecutive victory over ‘Hurst. Last year in Erie, the Warriors caught fire in the second half, shooting 66.7 percent from the field, 60 percent from 3-point land and 82.4 percent from the free throw-line, outscoring the Lakers, 52-40 over the final 20 minutes in the 85-72 win over No. 3 Mercuhurst. Marc Rodriguez and Troy Jones recorded 21 points, while McAliley added 17. There was 12 lead changes and six tied scores in the back-and-forth affair in late 2021.
About the Lakers: Mercyhurst has fallen just four times this season, with two of those coming on the hands of PSAC West rival and No. 3/2 IUP, including a 54-53 defeat during the PSAC Championship game last Sunday. Four Lakers average at least 9.3 points per game, led by All-PSAC West First Team selections Jeff Planutis (15 ppg) and Michael Bradley (14.7 ppg). Nicholas Lang, an All-PSAC West Second Team honoree shoots 43.8 percent from long range and buries 2.1 3-pointers per contest from beyond the arc and ranks second on the squad by averaging 6.1 rebounds per game. 6-7 Pipeloluwa Ajayi paces the glass with an average of seven per game. The Lakers excel defensively, holding opponents to just 61.6 points per game, which ranks ninth in the country and a 40.7 field goal percentage, which ranks 20th among 290 teams. Other areas where ‘Hurst ranks among the best in NCAA Division II including taking care of the ball (5th, 5.7 turnovers per game), assists (32nd, 16.0 apg), assist to turnover ratio (6th, +1.62).
