Preview: Mercyhurst Lakers at Stonehill Skyhawks

EASTON, Mass. (Interstat) — Two Northeast Conference men’s basketball teams looking to build momentum at the end of the season will meet Saturday when the Mercyhurst Lakers visit the Stonehill Skyhawks at Merkert Gymnasium.

The Lakers (14-16) enter the contest looking to rebound from a narrow 80-78 road loss at Central Connecticut on Thursday. Mercyhurst has shown a pattern of competitive play, with five of its last seven games decided by five points or fewer, including two overtime contests.

Stonehill (10-19) arrives with confidence after a dominant 103-77 home victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Thursday. The Skyhawks have won two of their last three games following a five-game skid.

The matchup will feature a compelling duel between two of the conference’s top scorers. Mercyhurst will rely on guard Bernie Blunt, who is averaging 21.9 points per game over his last seven contests. Blunt is coming off a 16-point performance at Central Connecticut and scored 31 points in a win at Saint Francis (Pa.) on Feb. 14.

He will be countered by Stonehill’s dynamic Davante Hackett. The Skyhawks’ guard is averaging 24.0 points over his last three games, highlighted by a spectacular 40-point outburst in Thursday’s win. Hackett also recorded a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double in a Jan. 31 victory at Le Moyne.

This game is a rematch of a Jan. 17 thriller in Erie, Pa., where Stonehill edged Mercyhurst 62-57 in overtime. Hackett led all scorers with 21 points in that victory, while Blunt was held to nine points for the Lakers.

Mercyhurst holds the better overall record, but Stonehill’s recent offensive explosion, particularly at home, suggests a high-scoring affair. The Lakers rank third in the NEC in scoring offense (75.1 ppg), while the Skyhawks have surged to average 87.0 points in their last two home games.

The game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.