MERCYHURST LAKERS MEN'S BASKETBALL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Mercyhurst University's men's basketball program, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, competes within the Northeast Conference at Division I after the school's 1926 founding established a 2,632-student Catholic institution. Coach Gary Manchel directs a 15-player roster from the Mercyhurst Athletic Center, where the Lakers' home court advantage is pronounced: they posted a 9-2 home record compared to 4-12 away in their 13-14 overall campaign. The conference standings tell a stronger story than the national record, with Mercyhurst maintaining a 7-4 league record that positions them competitively within the Northeast Conference structure.
Offensive efficiency remains central to Manchel's system, as the Lakers average 68.1 points per game while limiting opponents to 66.0, revealing a squad that operates with modest but consistent point differentials. Road struggles have defined the season, though the dramatic home-court split—earning nine victories in 11 home contests versus four in 16 away games—demonstrates environmental factors that shape conference competitiveness. At 2,632 students, Mercyhurst's enrollment base supports a smaller athletic operation that nonetheless maintains Division I standards across the Northeast Conference landscape.
KEY FACTS
| School | Mercyhurst University |
| Sport | Men's Basketball |
| Conference | Northeast Conference |
| Division | D1 |
| Location | Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Venue | Mercyhurst Athletic Center |
| Head Coach | Gary Manchel |
ROSTER (2025-26)
| # | Name | Pos |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Bernie Blunt III | G |
| 21 | Emilis Butkus | G |
| 2 | Brady Conner | G |
| 23 | Or Faran | G |
| 15 | Kaden Fuhrmann | G |
| 10 | Christian Gamble | G |
| 5 | Mykolas Ivanauskas | F |
| 7 | Deshaun Jackson Jr. | G |
| 3 | Cameron Johnson | F |
| 1 | Sean Lang | G |
| 13 | Chris Leman | F |
| 11 | Jake Lemelman | G |
| 12 | Qadir Martin | F |
| 33 | Vladimir Pavlovic | G |
| 34 | James Thomas | F |
SEASON RECORD
17-17
Overall
12-3
Home
5-14
Away
10-6
Conference
69.4 PPG / 67.4 Opp PPG
SCHEDULE (2025-26)
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4 | Northwestern Wildcats | L 47-70 |
| Nov 7 | Loyola Chicago Ramblers | W 73-65 |
| Nov 8 | Penn State New Kensington Lions | W 94-43 |
| Nov 13 | Canisius Golden Griffins | L 55-58 |
| Nov 15 | Morgan State Bears | W 86-72 |
| Nov 21 | Miami (OH) RedHawks | L 71-76 |
| Nov 24 | Marshall Thundering Herd | L 60-69 |
| Nov 30 | West Virginia Mountaineers | L 38-70 |
| Dec 6 | Lafayette Leopards | L 71-79 |
| Dec 7 | Bethany (WV) Bison | W 80-51 |
| Dec 13 | Davidson Wildcats | L 47-80 |
| Dec 18 | Syracuse Orange | L 62-76 |
| Dec 20 | Binghamton Bearcats | W 82-61 |
| Jan 3 | Fairleigh Dickinson Knights | L 67-74 |
| Jan 4 | Le Moyne Dolphins | W 74-60 |
| Jan 9 | Long Island University Sharks | L 58-60 |
| Jan 10 | Wagner Seahawks | W 70-69 |
| Jan 17 | Stonehill Skyhawks | L 57-62 |
| Jan 19 | Central Connecticut Blue Devils | W 79-61 |
| Jan 23 | New Haven Chargers | W 61-57 |
| Jan 25 | Chicago State Cougars | W 61-59 |
| Jan 30 | New Haven Chargers | W 70-51 |
| Jan 31 | Chicago State Cougars | L 74-78 |
| Feb 6 | Saint Francis Red Flash | W 98-89 |
| Feb 7 | Fairleigh Dickinson Knights | L 52-55 |
| Feb 13 | Le Moyne Dolphins | L 57-58 |
| Feb 14 | Saint Francis Red Flash | W 94-79 |
| Feb 20 | Wagner Seahawks | L 80-83 |
| Feb 21 | Long Island University Sharks | W 91-83 |
| Feb 27 | Central Connecticut Blue Devils | L 78-80 |
| Feb 28 | Stonehill Skyhawks | W 75-72 |
| Mar 5 | Fairleigh Dickinson Knights | W 70-61 |
| Mar 7 | Stonehill Skyhawks | W 56-51 |
| Mar 10 | Long Island University Sharks | L 70-79 |
ANALYTICS
+2.0
Pt Diff
L1
Streak
42.5%
SOS
#360
T-Rank
Barthag: 0.0984
94.1
Adj O
114.1
Adj D
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Pennsylvania Men's Basketball ProgramsFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What conference does Mercyhurst Men's Basketball compete in?
- Mercyhurst Lakers Men's Basketball competes in the Northeast Conference conference at the NCAA D1 level.
- Where does Mercyhurst play men's basketball home games?
- Mercyhurst Men's Basketball plays home games at Mercyhurst Athletic Center in Erie, PA.
- Who is the head coach of Mercyhurst Men's Basketball?
- The head coach of Mercyhurst Lakers Men's Basketball is Gary Manchel.
- When was Mercyhurst Men's Basketball program established?
- The establishment date for Mercyhurst Men's Basketball is not currently available.