Lafayette Leopards Defeat Mercyhurst Lakers 79-71
Friday, December 5, 2025, 7:00 PM ET · Kirby Sports Center
Lafayette Leopards 79, Mercyhurst Lakers 71, 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 Lafayette Leopards?
Lafayette Leopards beat Mercyhurst Lakers 79-71 at Kirby Sports Center on December 5, 2025.
Who was favored in Mercyhurst Lakers vs Lafayette Leopards?
Lafayette Leopards were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -170 (about 63% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Lafayette Leopards emerged victorious against the Mercyhurst Lakers with a final score of 79-71 at the Kirby Sports Center. This win marks a significant moment for the Leopards, who have struggled in recent games but managed to secure a much-needed victory against the Lakers. The Leopards improved their record to 4-7, while the Lakers fell to 3-7 on the season.
The Leopards entered the game with a recent form of 2-8 over their last ten games, having lost their last match against the Monmouth Hawks 74-88. Their scoring average during this stretch was 68.3 points per game, while they allowed an average of 75.0 points. At home, Lafayette had a record of 2-3, indicating some struggles but also showing potential in familiar surroundings. In contrast, the Lakers had a more balanced recent form, going 5-5 in their last ten games, although they were on a three-game losing streak leading into this matchup. Mercyhurst's scoring average was 67.9 points per game, with an average of 65.1 points allowed.
The game showcased the Leopards' ability to perform under pressure, especially given their recent struggles. Lafayette's last five games had seen them average 64.2 points scored and 71.2 points allowed, indicating a need for improvement on both ends of the court. The Lakers, on the other hand, averaged 62.0 points scored and 69.0 points allowed in their last five games, highlighting their defensive challenges.
Historically, the Leopards had a slight edge in their previous meeting against the Lakers, winning 77-73 on December 7, 2024. This victory would have given the Leopards confidence heading into the rematch, especially considering their home advantage.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability for either team, but such factors can often play a crucial role in the outcome of games, particularly in close contests.
The betting market had Lafayette favored to win, with a home win probability of 1.0, indicating strong confidence in their ability to secure the victory. The conditions at the Kirby Sports Center were likely conducive to a competitive game, with fans supporting the home team.
Throughout the game, viewers were treated to a series of pivotal scoring plays. Notably, Caleb Williams made a significant three-point jumper, assisted by Shareef Jackson, which helped the Leopards extend their lead. The final moments saw Andrew Phillips and Bernie Blunt III contributing crucial free throws to maintain the Leopards' advantage as the game drew to a close.
Overall, the Leopards' victory over the Lakers not only boosts their morale but also serves as a reminder of their potential as they look to build on this success in upcoming games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | — | 132.5 o -110 / u -110 | Mercyhurst Lakers +142 · Lafayette Leopards -170 |
Leaders
- PointsCaleb Williams24Lafayette Leopards
- AssistsMark Butler7Lafayette Leopards
- ReboundsChristian Humphrey-Rembert8Lafayette Leopards
- PointsBernie Blunt III17Mercyhurst Lakers
- AssistsJake Lemelman8Mercyhurst Lakers
- ReboundsQadir Martin7Mercyhurst Lakers
Recent form
Lafayette Leopards
Last 10: 2-8Streak L168.3 scored · 75 allowed per game2-3 at home
- L74-88vs Monmouth HawksNov 30
- W55-37vs Ball State CardinalsNov 29
- L63-76vs Le Moyne DolphinsNov 28
- L70-74at Stonehill SkyhawksNov 21
- L59-81at West Virginia MountaineersNov 18
- L78-97vs Cornell Big RedNov 13
- L60-97at Texas LonghornsNov 8
- W79-44vs Dickinson Red DevilsNov 6
- L76-85at Saint Joseph's HawksNov 4
- L69-71at American University EaglesMar 7
Mercyhurst Lakers
Last 10: 5-5Streak L367.9 scored · 65.1 allowed per game1-5 away
- 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
- W94-43vs Penn State New Kensington LionsNov 8
- W73-65at Loyola Chicago RamblersNov 7
- L47-70at Northwestern WildcatsNov 4
- W90-68vs Chicago State CougarsFeb 28
- W65-60vs Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsFeb 21
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 |
| Navy | 26-8 | - | 17-1 |
| Colgate | 18-15 | 6 | 11-7 |
| Lehigh | 18-17 | 6 | 11-7 |
| Boston University | 17-17 | 7 | 10-8 |
| American University | 16-16 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Loyola Maryland | 12-20 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Lafayette | 11-21 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Bucknell | 10-23 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Army | 11-21 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Holy Cross | 11-22 | 12 | 5-13 |
Box score
| Stat | Mercyhurst Lakers | Lafayette Leopards |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-68 | 25-50 |
| Field goal % | 44 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 5-17 | 14-23 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 61 |
| Free throws | 6-8 | 15-16 |
| Free throw % | 75 | 94 |
| Rebounds | 30 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 16 | 24 |
| Assists | 18 | 16 |
| Steals | 9 | 2 |
| Blocks | 8 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 4 |
| Fast-break points | 6 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 22 |
| Fouls | 13 | 10 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 19 | 71 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half42-41Christian Gamble made Jumper. Assisted by Qadir Martin.
- 2nd Half42-43Andrew Phillips made Layup. Assisted by Mark Butler.
- 2nd Half43-43Bernie Blunt III made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half44-43Bernie Blunt III made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half44-44Mark Butler made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half44-45Mark Butler made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half44-47Christian Humphrey-Rembert made Layup.
- 2nd Half46-47Bernie Blunt III made Jumper. Assisted by Deshaun Jackson Jr..
- 2nd Half46-50Christian Humphrey-Rembert made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Mark Butler.
- 2nd Half46-51Luke Bevilacqua made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half46-52Luke Bevilacqua made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half48-52Mykolas Ivanauskas made Layup. Assisted by Jake Lemelman.
- 2nd Half48-54Andrew Phillips made Layup.
- 2nd Half48-57Caleb Williams made Three Point Jumper.
- 2nd Half51-57Bernie Blunt III made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Jake Lemelman.
- 2nd Half53-57Mykolas Ivanauskas made Two Point Tip Shot.
- 2nd Half53-59Shareef Jackson made Layup. Assisted by Caleb Williams.
- 2nd Half53-60Caleb Williams made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half53-61Caleb Williams made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half54-61Qadir Martin made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half54-64Christian Humphrey-Rembert made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Caleb Williams.
- 2nd Half56-64Qadir Martin made Layup. Assisted by Jake Lemelman.
- 2nd Half56-65Andrew Phillips made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half56-66Andrew Phillips made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half58-66James Thomas made Two Point Tip Shot.
- 2nd Half60-66Bernie Blunt III made Layup.
- 2nd Half60-68Mark Butler made Layup.
- 2nd Half63-68Christian Gamble made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Jake Lemelman.
- 2nd Half65-68Christian Gamble made Two Point Tip Shot.
- 2nd Half68-68Jake Lemelman made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Bernie Blunt III.
- 2nd Half68-71Andrew Phillips made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Shareef Jackson.
- 2nd Half69-71Qadir Martin made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half69-72Andrew Phillips made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half69-73Andrew Phillips made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half70-73Bernie Blunt III made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half71-73Bernie Blunt III made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half71-76Caleb Williams made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Shareef Jackson.
- 2nd Half71-77Mark Butler made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half71-78Caleb Williams made Free Throw.
- 2nd Half71-79Caleb Williams made Free Throw.
Win probability
Above the line favours Lafayette Leopards, below favours Mercyhurst Lakers.
Venue
- Kirby Sports CenterEaston, PA
- Attendance1144
- OfficialsChris Slattery, Sean Campbell, Janice Elgedawy
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