Fairleigh Dickinson Knights Defeat Mercyhurst Lakers 74-67
Friday, January 2, 2026, 7:30 PM ET · Mercyhurst Athletic Center
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 74, Mercyhurst Lakers 67, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs Mercyhurst Lakers?
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights beat Mercyhurst Lakers 74-67 at Mercyhurst Athletic Center on January 2, 2026.
Who was favored in Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs Mercyhurst Lakers?
Mercyhurst Lakers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -278 (about 74% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights emerged victorious against the Mercyhurst Lakers with a final score of 74-67. This game, held at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center, was significant as it marked a continuation of the Knights' positive trend against the Lakers, improving their head-to-head record to 3-0 in the 2025 season.
Both teams entered the game struggling, with the Lakers holding a home record of 5-9 and the Knights at 4-10 overall. The Lakers had a recent record of 3-7 in their last ten games, while the Knights also posted a record of 3-7 during the same stretch. The Lakers were on a one-game winning streak, having defeated the Binghamton Bearcats 82-61 in their previous outing, while the Knights were on a two-game losing streak, having lost to the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Boston College Eagles.
At home, the Lakers had shown a slight advantage with a home record of 3-0 in their last three games, while their away record was a dismal 0-7. In contrast, the Knights had a home record of 3-2 but struggled significantly on the road with an away record of 0-5.
The matchup was closely monitored by the betting market, with DraftKings providing the odds. The Lakers were favored by a spread of -5.5, with a moneyline of -278. The total for the game was set at 133.5, with the over priced at -105 and the under at -115. This indicated a belief that the game would be competitive, but the Lakers were expected to secure the win.
As the game unfolded, the Knights demonstrated resilience and tactical execution. Key moments included a turnaround jump shot by Joey Niesman that put the Knights ahead late in the second half. Taeshaud Jackson played a crucial role, making several free throws that extended the Knights' lead. The Lakers fought back with a layup from James Thomas, assisted by Deshaun Jackson Jr., but it was not enough to overcome the Knights' advantage.
The scoring plays in the final moments highlighted the Knights' ability to capitalize on free throw opportunities, with Jackson and Eric Parnell each contributing to the scoreline through successful free throws. Despite the Lakers' efforts, including a strong performance at home, they could not close the gap, ultimately leading to their defeat.
The conditions of the game were conducive to a competitive atmosphere, with both teams looking to improve their standings. The Lakers' recent form suggested they could have made a stronger push, but the Knights' execution under pressure proved decisive.
This game serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of college basketball, where momentum can shift rapidly. The Knights' victory not only boosts their confidence but also adds to their historical dominance over the Lakers this season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MERC -5.5 | 133.5 o -105 / u -115 | Fairleigh Dickinson Knights +225 · Mercyhurst Lakers -278 |
Leaders
- PointsBernie Blunt III21Mercyhurst Lakers
- AssistsDeshaun Jackson Jr.6Mercyhurst Lakers
- ReboundsQadir Martin8Mercyhurst Lakers
- PointsEric Parnell19Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
- AssistsTaeshaud Jackson3Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
- ReboundsTaeshaud Jackson12Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
Recent form
Mercyhurst Lakers
Last 10: 3-7Streak W165.2 scored · 69.2 allowed per game3-0 at home
- W82-61vs Binghamton BearcatsDec 20
- L62-76at Syracuse OrangeDec 18
- L47-80at Davidson WildcatsDec 13
- W80-51vs Bethany (WV) BisonDec 7
- L71-79at Lafayette LeopardsDec 6
- L38-70at West Virginia MountaineersNov 30
- L60-69at Marshall Thundering HerdNov 24
- L71-76at Miami (OH) RedHawksNov 21
- W86-72vs Morgan State BearsNov 15
- L55-58at Canisius Golden GriffinsNov 13
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
Last 10: 3-7Streak L270.3 scored · 68.3 allowed per game0-5 away
- L43-60at Minnesota Golden GophersDec 30
- L61-72at Boston College EaglesDec 23
- W76-42vs Lehman BridgesDec 19
- L54-75at Fordham RamsDec 11
- W86-38vs Manor Blue JaysDec 4
- L64-94at Providence FriarsDec 3
- L73-81vs Army Black KnightsNov 26
- L65-70vs East Texas A&M LionsNov 24
- W100-58vs Saint Elizabeth EaglesNov 19
- L81-93at NJIT HighlandersNov 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Island University | 24-11 | - | 15-3 |
| Central Connecticut | 18-12 | 3 | 12-6 |
| Mercyhurst | 17-17 | 5 | 10-8 |
| Le Moyne | 15-17 | 5 | 10-8 |
| New Haven | 14-17 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Wagner | 14-17 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Stonehill | 12-21 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson | 11-21 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Saint Francis | 7-24 | 10 | 5-13 |
| Chicago State | 7-25 | 10 | 5-13 |
Box score
| Stat | Fairleigh Dickinson Knights | Mercyhurst Lakers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-48 | 23-52 |
| Field goal % | 56 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 8-17 | 3-19 |
| Three-point % | 47 | 16 |
| Free throws | 12-16 | 18-20 |
| Free throw % | 75 | 90 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 22 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 14 |
| Assists | 13 | 11 |
| Steals | 5 | 12 |
| Blocks | 0 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 20 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 17 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 30 |
| Fouls | 14 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 9 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 44 | 45 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half41-39Joey Niesman makes driving layup
- 2nd Half43-39Raysean Johnson makes layup (Taeshaud Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half43-40Qadir Martin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-41Qadir Martin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-41Joey Niesman makes layup
- 2nd Half45-43Bernie Blunt III makes layup
- 2nd Half47-43Eric Parnell makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half47-44Jake Lemelman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-45Jake Lemelman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-45Raysean Johnson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Taeshaud Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half50-47Jake Lemelman makes 12-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half50-48Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-49Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-50Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-51Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-51Joey Niesman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-51Joey Niesman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-53Mykolas Ivanauskas makes layup (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half52-55Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half52-56Sean Lang makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-58Qadir Martin makes layup (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half55-58Eric Parnell makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half58-58Eric Parnell makes 28-foot three point jumper (Cyril Martynov assists)
- 2nd Half60-58Cyril Martynov makes layup (Eric Parnell assists)
- 2nd Half60-60Mykolas Ivanauskas makes layup (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half61-60Cyril Martynov makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-62Mykolas Ivanauskas makes 5-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half63-62Arthur Cox makes layup
- 2nd Half63-63Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-64Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-64Joey Niesman makes 28-foot three point jumper (Taeshaud Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half66-65Sean Lang makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-65Joey Niesman makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half69-65Taeshaud Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-65Taeshaud Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-67James Thomas makes layup (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half71-67Taeshaud Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-67Taeshaud Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-67Eric Parnell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-67Eric Parnell makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Mercyhurst Lakers, below favours Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.
Venue
- Mercyhurst Athletic CenterErie, PA
- Attendance257
- OfficialsGreg Gerritsen, Darren Duke, Travis Caswell
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond