Complete Game Notes

GAME INFORMATION
Mercyhurst (6-6, 3-0 PSAC West) at Millersville (5-6, 1-2 PSAC East)
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 - 7:30 p.m.
Mercyhurst Athletic Center, Erie, Pa.

MEDIA INFORMATION
Live Stats
All-Access Video

SERIES INFORMATION
Series vs. Hurst: 2-3
Series Streak: Ville, 1
First Meeting:  1994 (Ville 93, Hurst 84)
Last Meeting: 2012 (Ville 72, Hurst 60)
Last 10: N/A
Fred Thompson vs. Mercyhurst: 1-3
Gary Manchel vs. Millersville: 3-1

GAME NOTES
· Millersville has found its rhythm during its three-game winning streak, averaging 85.3 points per game, shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, and an incredible 44.7 percent from three. Against Edinboro, the Marauders tied a school record with 17 made 3-pointers, and they rank first in the PSAC in 3-pointers made per game (10.3).  Millersville has sank at least nine threes in eight games and has shot 40.7 percent from three over the last four games. Tyree Smith (43.2), Jalen Lester (42.6), Tavon Parker (35.8) and Anthony Coleman (35.3) are among the most accurate 3-point shooters in the league. Lester is also nearly automatic at the free throw line, hitting 19-of-21 attempts. Smith's percentage is at 74.4 percent, but he's made 23 of his last 24 attempts over five games. Millersville can certainly score at home, averaging 79.8 points per game while posting a 5-1 record. The Marauders, averaging just 70.2 points and 36.0 percent shooting on the road, are in search of their first road win and face two difficult road trips to Mercyhurst and Mansfield this week.

· Millersville has also improved drastically at the defensive end over the last three games, dropping its points per game allowed from 77.6 over the first eight games to 69.0. The Marauders allowed opponents to shoot 47.1 percent from the field and a league-worst 45.7 percent from three through eight games, but teams are managing 37.2 percent shooting and have made just 8-of-42 threes in the last three. Millersville has also created 58 turnovers in the three wins--36 coming on steals--and totaled 71 points off turnovers.  Millersville is 5-3 when scoring more points off of turnovers than its opponent.

· The Marauders played 10 first-year players through the first 11 games, but since settling on a pair of five-man rotations, the Marauders have started to roll. In the team's three-game winning streak, eight different players averaged at least 8.0 points and 15 minutes played per game. The Marauder bench is averaging 35.6 points per game and most recently scored 49 against Edinboro. The starting lineup of Nate Bollinger, Brandon Brown, Xavier Mumford, Lester and Coleman is plus-19 in scoring margin over 62:16 minutes. The second rotation with Parker, Carl Wallace, Kyle Richardson, Smith and J.D. Ricapito is plus-20.

· Tavon Parker was named PSAC East Freshman of the Week on Monday after leading Millersville in scoring against Edinboro and Slippery Rock, averaging 18.5 points per game. Parker's seven threes against Edinboro were the most by a Marauder since 2010 and the most by a freshman in the Fred Thompson era. He has seven double-figure performances in 11 games, matching Mike Holley's 2010-11 season as the best start for a Thompson-coached freshman.

· Millersville and Mercyhurst have met four times since Mercyhurst joined the PSAC in 2008-09. Four of the five games were decided by a single digit margins and two have gone into overtime. Millersville's 72-60 win last season snapped the Lakers' three-game winning streak. Millersville hasn't played at Mercyhurst since 2008-09.

ABOUT THE LAKERS
· Mercyhurst has recovered from an 0-3 start to even its record at 6-6 overall and 3-0 in the PSAC West with one crossover game remaining on the schedule. As its .500 record suggest, the Lakers have struggled to find consistency, winning three in a row from Nov. 30-Dec. 7 before losing three of four. While perfect against the PSAC West, the Lakers are 2-3 against the PSAC East. All five games against the division have been decided by 10 or fewer points. Mercyhurst averages just 64.3 points per game, which ranks 15th in the PSAC. The defense, however, is one of the best in the PSAC, ranking second with 61.8 points per game allowed. Mercyhurst is a veteran team with four second-year starters in the lineup. Guard Jonathan Ouegnin is the Lakers' top player, averaging a team-high 11.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.