Chicago State Edges Mercyhurst in Close Encounter
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Jones Convocation Center
Chicago State Cougars 78, Mercyhurst Lakers 74, 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 Mercyhurst Lakers vs Chicago State Cougars?
Chicago State Cougars beat Mercyhurst Lakers 78-74 at Jones Convocation Center on January 31, 2026.
Who was favored in Mercyhurst Lakers vs Chicago State Cougars?
Mercyhurst Lakers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -142 (about 59% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at the Jones Convocation Center, the Chicago State Cougars secured a narrow victory over the Mercyhurst Lakers, finishing the game with a score of 78-74. This victory marked a significant moment for the Cougars, who have struggled throughout the season, boasting a home record of 3-19 prior to this game. The win also snapped a daunting 10-game losing streak for Chicago State, which had not tasted victory since early December.
The Cougars entered the game with a recent form that was far from encouraging, having lost all of their last ten games. Their scoring average during this stretch was 61.7 points per game, while they allowed an average of 73.8 points to their opponents. In their last five games, they averaged 62.8 points scored and 72.2 points allowed, showcasing their defensive vulnerabilities. In contrast, the Mercyhurst Lakers came into the game with a record of 11-12 and had been on a strong run, winning seven of their last ten games, including four consecutive victories leading up to this matchup. The Lakers averaged 67.9 points scored and 61.4 points allowed over their last ten games, indicating a solid defensive performance.
When playing at home, the Cougars had struggled significantly, holding a home record of 0-4 in their last ten games. On the other hand, the Lakers had a more balanced performance, with a 5-2 record in their last seven games at home. This game was particularly notable as it was a rematch of their previous encounter just six days prior, where Mercyhurst edged Chicago State 61-59.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details regarding player availability for either team, which could have influenced the dynamics of the game. However, the absence of key players can often shift the balance in tightly contested matchups like this one.
The betting market, as reported by DraftKings, had Mercyhurst favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 129.5. The odds reflected the Lakers' recent form and their previous victory against the Cougars, but Chicago State's performance in this game would ultimately defy expectations.
The conditions at the Jones Convocation Center were typical for a basketball game, with no adverse weather conditions reported that could have impacted play. Fans were treated to a competitive atmosphere as both teams fought hard for every point.
As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a tightly contested battle with several lead changes. The Cougars managed to maintain a slight edge in the final moments, aided by free throws from Doyel Cockrill III, who contributed crucial points down the stretch. The game concluded with Cockrill making two free throws that sealed the victory for Chicago State, bringing their final score to 78.
This victory not only provided a much-needed boost for the Cougars but also highlighted their ability to compete against a team that had been performing well in recent weeks. The game served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of college basketball, where any team can rise to the occasion on any given night.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MERC -2.5 | 129.5 o -112 / u -108 | Mercyhurst Lakers -142 · Chicago State Cougars +120 |
Leaders
- PointsCJ Ray37Chicago State Cougars
- AssistsBraelon Bush5Chicago State Cougars
- ReboundsCJ Ray10Chicago State Cougars
- PointsJake Lemelman21Mercyhurst Lakers
- AssistsBernie Blunt III8Mercyhurst Lakers
- ReboundsQadir Martin8Mercyhurst Lakers
Recent form
Chicago State Cougars
Last 10: 0-10Streak L1061.7 scored · 73.8 allowed per game0-4 at home
- L59-61at Mercyhurst LakersJan 25
- L60-81at Saint Francis Red WolvesJan 24
- L56-62vs New Haven ChargersJan 20
- L57-72vs Le Moyne DolphinsJan 17
- L82-85at Stonehill SkyhawksJan 10
- L63-70at Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsJan 8
- L55-74vs Long Island University SharksJan 4
- L72-79vs Wagner SeahawksJan 3
- L58-78at Indiana HoosiersDec 20
- L55-76at Bowling Green FalconsDec 17
Mercyhurst Lakers
Last 10: 7-3Streak W467.9 scored · 61.4 allowed per game2-1 away
- W70-51vs New Haven ChargersJan 30
- W61-59vs Chicago State CougarsJan 25
- W61-57at New Haven ChargersJan 23
- W79-61vs Central Connecticut Blue DevilsJan 19
- L57-62vs Stonehill SkyhawksJan 17
- W70-69at Wagner SeahawksJan 10
- L58-60at Long Island University SharksJan 9
- W74-60vs Le Moyne DolphinsJan 4
- L67-74vs Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsJan 3
- W82-61vs Binghamton BearcatsDec 20
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 | Mercyhurst Lakers | Chicago State Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-60 | 25-56 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 6-22 | 9-21 |
| Three-point % | 27 | 43 |
| Free throws | 10-14 | 19-30 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 63 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 13 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 23 |
| Assists | 20 | 18 |
| Steals | 7 | 4 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 18 | 3 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 22 |
| Fouls | 24 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 6 | 8 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 27 | 62 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half46-46Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half46-49Marcus Tankersley makes 23-foot three point jumper (Doyel Cockrill III assists)
- 2nd Half46-50Marcus Tankersley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-50Jake Lemelman makes layup (Kaden Fuhrmann assists)
- 2nd Half48-53Chauncey Gibson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Doyel Cockrill III assists)
- 2nd Half50-53Mykolas Ivanauskas makes layup (Jake Lemelman assists)
- 2nd Half50-56Doyel Cockrill III makes 24-foot three point jumper (Marcus Tankersley assists)
- 2nd Half50-57Marcus Tankersley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-58Marcus Tankersley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-58Mykolas Ivanauskas makes 6-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half52-60Chauncey Gibson makes layup (CJ Ray assists)
- 2nd Half55-60Christian Gamble makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jake Lemelman assists)
- 2nd Half55-62Marcus Tankersley makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-63CJ Ray makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-63Qadir Martin makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half58-63Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-64CJ Ray makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-65CJ Ray makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-65Qadir Martin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-65Qadir Martin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-65Jake Lemelman makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-66CJ Ray makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-67CJ Ray makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-67Jake Lemelman makes 12-foot jumper (Bernie Blunt III assists)
- 2nd Half64-70Marcus Tankersley makes 23-foot three point jumper (Doyel Cockrill III assists)
- 2nd Half64-71Chauncey Gibson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-72Chauncey Gibson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-72Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-72Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-73Marcus Tankersley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-73Qadir Martin makes layup (Bernie Blunt III assists)
- 2nd Half68-74Doyel Cockrill III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-75Doyel Cockrill III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-75Qadir Martin makes layup (Jake Lemelman assists)
- 2nd Half72-75Qadir Martin makes layup (Bernie Blunt III assists)
- 2nd Half73-75Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-76Marcus Tankersley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-76Jake Lemelman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-77Doyel Cockrill III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-78Doyel Cockrill III makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Chicago State Cougars, below favours Mercyhurst Lakers.
Venue
- Jones Convocation CenterChicago, IL
- Attendance141
- OfficialsCody Crum, Ernest Hamilton III, Michael Brode
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- Mercyhurst Edges Chicago State in Close ContestJan 25, 2026