Preview: Fairleigh Dickinson Knights at Mercyhurst Lakers

ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum to open the new year will meet Friday when the Mercyhurst Lakers host the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

The matchup, organized by the Northeast, features programs with similar records looking to build consistency. The visiting Knights (3-10) have lost three straight, including a 43-60 defeat at Minnesota on Monday. The Lakers (5-8) last played on Dec. 20, earning an 82-61 home victory over Binghamton.

Fairleigh Dickinson will lean on guard Eric Parnell, who has been a bright spot during the skid. He scored a team-high 17 points in 33 minutes against Minnesota and has averaged 13.2 points over his last five games. His backcourt play will be critical for a Knights offense that has struggled against high-major competition.

Mercyhurst counters with forward Qadir Martin, a defensive force who can also provide scoring. Martin is coming off a 20-point, three-block performance against Binghamton and has recorded multiple blocks in four of his last five contests. His presence in the paint will challenge a Fairleigh Dickinson team that has faced scoring droughts.

Both teams have feasted on lower-division opponents — the Knights beat Lehman and Manor by wide margins, while the Lakers routed Bethany and Penn St.-New Kensington — but have found wins harder to secure against Division I competition. This game offers a chance for either squad to secure a valuable regional win.

For Mercyhurst, protecting home court is paramount as they begin a stretch of nine January games. For Fairleigh Dickinson, stopping the slide before opening a string of conference games next week is the immediate priority.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Friday.