Long Island University Sharks vs Mercyhurst Lakers

This NCAAB matchup features Long Island University Sharks (19-9 (9-1)) traveling to take on Mercyhurst Lakers (13-15 (9-3)) at Mercyhurst Athletic Center, Erie, PA. These two teams are closely matched, with both squads posting similar scoring differentials this season. This projects as a competitive contest that could go either way. Mercyhurst averages 68.5 points per game, but they face a Long Island defense that holds opponents to 71.8 PPG. The visitors' defensive prowess could limit the home team's scoring output. The Long Island offense puts up 73.8 PPG and faces a Mercyhurst defense allowing 66.6 PPG. The visitors have the offensive firepower to stay in this one. Home court advantage is worth approximately 3.5 points in NCAAB, and Mercyhurst will look to leverage their home crowd. Our model sees this as essentially a coin-flip game, projecting just a 2.3-point margin. Expect a tight finish. The 68% confidence interval ranges from Mercyhurst winning by 16 to losing by 11. The market has this game at +2.5, but our model sees value on Mercyhurst with a 4.8-point edge. Our line: Mercyhurst -2.3. Combined with the total projection of 142 versus the market line of 137.5, there are opportunities to find value on both sides of this matchup.

Mercyhurst has struggled this season at 13-15 (9-3). The wins have been hard to come by, and the team is looking for answers on both ends of the floor. Home court advantage will be critical for any chance at pulling off an upset. Long Island sits at 19-9 (9-1) on the season. They've been competitive in most outings but have had their share of inconsistent performances. On the road, they'll need to bring their best effort to come away with a win. When these teams meet, the home team typically has the edge given the crowd advantage and familiarity factor. The team that controls tempo and limits turnovers will likely dictate the outcome of this matchup.