Mercyhurst Lakers Defeat Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 70-61
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Mercyhurst Athletic Center
Mercyhurst Lakers 70, Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 61, 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?
Mercyhurst Lakers beat Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 70-61 at Mercyhurst Athletic Center on March 4, 2026.
Who was favored in Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs Mercyhurst Lakers?
Mercyhurst Lakers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -180 (about 64% implied). The favorite won.
In a competitive matchup at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center, the Mercyhurst Lakers secured a 70-61 victory over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights. This game was notable not only for the outcome but also for the implications it had for both teams as they approached the end of the season. The Lakers improved their record to 17-16, while the Knights fell to 11-22 after this contest.
The Lakers entered the game with a record of 16-16 and had shown a mixed bag of form recently, going 5-5 in their last ten games. They were riding a one-game winning streak after a 75-72 victory against the Stonehill Skyhawks on February 28. In their last five games, the Lakers averaged 83.6 points scored per game while allowing 79.4 points, indicating a high-scoring style of play. At home, they had a record of 3-1 in their last four games, showcasing their strength on their home court.
Conversely, the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights had struggled, entering the game with an 11-21 record and a 4-6 mark in their last ten outings. They were on a three-game losing streak, having lost to the Long Island University Sharks and the Le Moyne Dolphins in their last two games. Their scoring average in the last five games was significantly lower than that of the Lakers, at just 62.6 points per game, while they allowed 71.2 points. The Knights had a poor away record of 1-4 in their last five games, which contributed to their overall struggles this season.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Lakers and Knights had faced each other four times over the last two seasons, with the series tied at 2-2. The most recent meeting prior to this game occurred on February 7, 2026, where Fairleigh Dickinson edged out Mercyhurst with a narrow 55-52 victory. This history added an extra layer of intensity to the matchup, as both teams sought to gain an edge in the rivalry.
The injury report for both teams was not detailed in the provided facts, but it is always a critical factor in game outcomes, particularly in tight contests like this one. The absence of key players can significantly affect team performance, and both coaching staffs would have been monitoring their rosters closely leading up to the game.
The betting market reflected a competitive outlook for this matchup, with DraftKings setting the spread at -3.5 in favor of the Lakers. The total points over/under was set at 131.5, indicating expectations for a relatively low-scoring affair compared to the Lakers' recent scoring averages. The moneyline odds were -180 for Mercyhurst and +150 for Fairleigh Dickinson, suggesting that Mercyhurst was favored to win.
The game conditions were standard for a late-season college basketball matchup, with both teams likely feeling the weight of their respective records. Fans in attendance witnessed a physical game, typical of this rivalry, with both teams fighting for every possession.
As the game progressed, the Lakers managed to pull away in the second half, ultimately outscoring the Knights to secure their victory. Key moments included free throws from Bernie Blunt III, who contributed to the Lakers' lead in the closing minutes, and a jumper from Jake Lemelman that maintained the Lakers' momentum. The final score of 70-61 reflected the Lakers' ability to capitalize on their home advantage and their recent form, while the Knights continued to struggle away from home.
Overall, this game showcased the resilience of the Mercyhurst Lakers as they look to build on this victory and improve their standing, while the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights will need to regroup and address their ongoing challenges as the season winds down.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MERC -3.5 | 131.5 o -115 / u -105 | Fairleigh Dickinson Knights +150 · Mercyhurst Lakers -180 |
Leaders
- PointsBernie Blunt III20Mercyhurst Lakers
- AssistsJake Lemelman4Mercyhurst Lakers
- ReboundsBernie Blunt III7Mercyhurst Lakers
- PointsArthur Cox15Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
- AssistsArthur Cox3Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
- ReboundsTaeshaud Jackson9Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
Recent form
Mercyhurst Lakers
Last 10: 5-5Streak W176.9 scored · 72.8 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W75-72at Stonehill SkyhawksFeb 28
- L78-80at Central Connecticut Blue DevilsFeb 27
- W91-83vs Long Island University SharksFeb 21
- L80-83vs Wagner SeahawksFeb 20
- W94-79at Saint Francis Red WolvesFeb 14
- L57-58at Le Moyne DolphinsFeb 13
- L52-55at Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsFeb 7
- W98-89vs Saint Francis Red WolvesFeb 6
- L74-78at Chicago State CougarsJan 31
- W70-51vs New Haven ChargersJan 30
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
Last 10: 4-6Streak L363.7 scored · 65.8 allowed per game1-4 away
- L60-74at Long Island University SharksFeb 28
- L59-76at Le Moyne DolphinsFeb 27
- L77-84vs New Haven ChargersFeb 22
- W60-59at Chicago State CougarsFeb 20
- L57-63vs Central Connecticut Blue DevilsFeb 14
- W66-59vs Saint Francis Red WolvesFeb 13
- W55-52vs Mercyhurst LakersFeb 7
- W74-58vs Stonehill SkyhawksFeb 6
- L72-75at Wagner SeahawksJan 31
- L57-58at Stonehill SkyhawksJan 30
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 | 21-54 | 25-49 |
| Field goal % | 39 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 5-23 | 6-17 |
| Three-point % | 22 | 35 |
| Free throws | 14-21 | 14-16 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 88 |
| Rebounds | 32 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 4 |
| Defensive rebounds | 21 | 29 |
| Assists | 8 | 14 |
| Steals | 5 | 5 |
| Blocks | 0 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 6 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 0 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 30 |
| Fouls | 18 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 13 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 96 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half28-37Qadir Martin makes 3-foot jumper
- 2nd Half30-37Cyril Martynov makes 5-foot jumper
- 2nd Half30-38Qadir Martin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half30-41Jake Lemelman makes 26-foot three point jumper (Mykolas Ivanauskas assists)
- 2nd Half33-41Joey Niesman makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ras Elijah Godbolt assists)
- 2nd Half33-43Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half33-46Bernie Blunt III makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half36-46David Jevtic makes 23-foot three point jumper (Arthur Cox assists)
- 2nd Half37-46Arthur Cox makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half38-46Arthur Cox makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-46Arthur Cox makes layup
- 2nd Half41-46Arthur Cox makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half41-48Mykolas Ivanauskas makes layup (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half41-49Cameron Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-50Cameron Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-50Taeshaud Jackson makes layup
- 2nd Half45-50Joey Niesman makes layup (Arthur Cox assists)
- 2nd Half45-53Cameron Johnson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half45-55Cameron Johnson makes layup (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half47-55David Jevtic makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half49-55Cyril Martynov makes layup (David Jevtic assists)
- 2nd Half51-55Cyril Martynov makes 3-foot dunk (Joey Niesman assists)
- 2nd Half53-55Joey Niesman makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half53-56Jake Lemelman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-57Jake Lemelman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-57Taeshaud Jackson makes layup
- 2nd Half57-57Joey Niesman makes layup
- 2nd Half57-59Bernie Blunt III makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half57-60Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-61Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-63Jake Lemelman makes 15-foot jumper
- 2nd Half59-63Arthur Cox makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half59-65Jake Lemelman makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half60-65Arthur Cox makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-65Arthur Cox makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-66Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-67Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-68Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-69Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-70Jake Lemelman makes free throw 1 of 1
Win probability
Above the line favours Mercyhurst Lakers, below favours Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.
Venue
- Mercyhurst Athletic CenterErie, PA
- Attendance1027
- OfficialsCody Crum, Connor Mooney, 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