Edinboro, Pa. - The Edinboro men's basketball team will travel to Erie, Pa on Saturday night for a battle with nationally ranked Mercyhurst University. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. at the Owen McCormick Court at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
Twenty-Three Games In
Edinboro comes into the weekend with an (8-15) overall record and (6-12) in PSAC play. As of recently the Fighting Scots have won three out of their last five games with wins over Clarion and Gannon. Edinboro currently sits upon the seventh seed in the PSAC West standings. The Scots will have to win their three remaining games in hope of clinching a spot in the PSAC tournament.
Edinboro's offense averages 76.2 points per game, along with 43% shooting from the field and a 29% clip from beyond the arc. The Fighting Scots movement on offense has led them to 12.7 assists per game so far this season.
The Fighting Scots are tough on the glass, as they are fourth in the PSAC with 40.5 team rebounds per game. On defense Edinboro averages 1.1 more blocks than their opponents at 4.8 a game.
Statistical Leaders
Deontae Robertson leads Edinboro in scoring at 19.4 points per game which ranks fifth in the entire PSAC. Robertson also contributes 7.5 rebounds per game along with 1.7 steals which ranks eleventh in the conference.
Cyrie Coates averages 14.5 points per game along with 5.6 rebounds per game.
Dominique Keyes averages 11.2 points per game along with 9.1 rebounds while snatching 1.5 blocks per game.
Last time out
On Wednesday night Edinboro fell to nationally ranked IUP, 71-83. The Fighting Scots put forth a tough effort and kept the game within ten points the entire game.
The second half consisted of Edinboro relentlessly chasing down IUP's lead. At the 11:26 mark Coates ripped away a steal and went coast to coast for a fastbreak dunk. The following possession, Coates found Dominique Keyes down low for another slam dunk. The back-to-back dunks trimmed the IUP lead to just three points.
With 6:20 left to play, Jack Gallagher grabbed a defensive rebound and went coast to coast and finished at the rim to make it 61-60 in favor of IUP. From that point on, IUP began to slip away with the help of starting guard Armoni Foster. Foster scored 10 points grabbed two steals in the final five minutes. Foster finished the night with 32 points and eight assists.
Coates finished with a team-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, along with three steals.
Keyes followed him with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Terrence Moore contributed 12 points and eight rebounds.
#19 Mercyhurst Scouting Report
Mercyhurst comes into the competition with an overall record of (21-4) and (15-4) in conference play. The Lakers currently sit in the second spot of the PSAC West standings, only behind IUP. Recently, Mercyhurst has won six of their last seven games.
On offense, IUP averages 81.3 points per contest while shooting 48% from the field and 38% from three-point range.
Mercyhurst has three players that average double figures in scoring. MiyKah McIntosh leads them with 16.8 points per game while shooting 43% from three. Steve Cannady averages 11.9 points per game while shooting 45% from the field.
Last Matchup with the Lakers
Back on January 19th Mercyhurst defeated Edinboro 95-60 at McComb Fieldhouse. The Lakers were led by Steve Cannady who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. For Edinboro, Keyes and Will Taylor each finished with nine points.
