Mercyhurst Lakers Edge New Haven Chargers in Close Contest
Friday, January 23, 2026, 1:00 PM ET · Jeffery P. Hazell Athletics Center
Mercyhurst Lakers 61, New Haven Chargers 57, 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 New Haven Chargers?
Mercyhurst Lakers beat New Haven Chargers 61-57 at Jeffery P. Hazell Athletics Center on January 23, 2026.
Who was favored in Mercyhurst Lakers vs New Haven Chargers?
Mercyhurst Lakers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -122 (about 55% implied). The favorite won.
The Mercyhurst Lakers secured a narrow victory over the New Haven Chargers, finishing the game with a score of 61-57. Both teams entered this matchup with identical records of 9-11, making this contest particularly significant as they sought to improve their standings in the NCAAB league. The game took place at the Jeffery P. Hazell Athletics Center, where the Chargers have shown a slightly better performance at home compared to their overall away record.
In the lead-up to this game, the Chargers had a mixed form, winning four of their last ten games, with a current winning streak of three. They averaged 61.2 points scored and allowed 68.3 points per game during this stretch. Their recent victories included a 62-56 win against the Chicago State Cougars and an 80-74 win against the Wagner Seahawks. At home, they maintained a perfect record of 2-0 in their last two games, which included their recent win against Wagner.
Conversely, the Lakers also had a balanced record in their last ten games, winning five and losing five. They entered the game with a one-game winning streak, having defeated the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 79-61 in their previous outing. The Lakers averaged 67.6 points scored and allowed 65.4 points per game during their last ten games. Their away record, however, was less impressive, with only one win in their last four away games.
The matchup was highly anticipated, not only for the teams' similar records but also due to their recent performances. In terms of previous meetings, the block does not provide specific historical context, but the stakes were high for both teams looking to gain momentum.
In terms of injuries, the block does not mention any specific players affected, which suggests both teams were likely at full strength for this crucial game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored the Lakers slightly with a spread of 1.5 points and a moneyline of -122, while the Chargers were at +102.
The conditions of the game were typical for a January evening, with the atmosphere in the arena likely charged given the importance of the matchup. Fans were treated to a competitive game that saw several lead changes and close scoring plays in the second half.
During the final moments, the Lakers managed to maintain their lead after a series of free throws by Bernie Blunt III and Deshaun Jackson Jr., who both contributed crucial points to secure the win. The Chargers fought back, tying the game briefly with a jumper from Andre Pasha, but ultimately fell short as the Lakers capitalized on their free throw opportunities.
As the game concluded, the home win probability for the Chargers was recorded at 0.0, indicating the Lakers' strong finish in a tightly contested matchup. This game not only showcased the competitive spirit of both teams but also highlighted the significance of every point in a close league race.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MERC -1.5 | 122.5 o -108 / u -112 | Mercyhurst Lakers -122 · New Haven Chargers +102 |
Leaders
- PointsNajimi George17New Haven Chargers
- AssistsJabri Fitzpatrick5New Haven Chargers
- ReboundsTeshaun Steele5New Haven Chargers
- PointsQadir Martin16Mercyhurst Lakers
- AssistsDeshaun Jackson Jr.4Mercyhurst Lakers
- ReboundsSean Lang6Mercyhurst Lakers
Recent form
New Haven Chargers
Last 10: 4-6Streak W361.2 scored · 68.3 allowed per game2-0 at home
- W62-56at Chicago State CougarsJan 20
- W80-74vs Wagner SeahawksJan 17
- W65-55vs Fairleigh Dickinson KnightsJan 10
- L47-73at Le Moyne DolphinsJan 9
- L61-72at Central Connecticut Blue DevilsJan 4
- W70-55at Stonehill SkyhawksJan 3
- L53-96at Vanderbilt CommodoresDec 30
- L47-65at Fordham RamsDec 22
- L64-70at NJIT HighlandersDec 11
- L63-67at Boston College EaglesDec 6
Mercyhurst Lakers
Last 10: 5-5Streak W167.6 scored · 65.4 allowed per game1-3 away
- 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
- L62-76at Syracuse OrangeDec 18
- L47-80at Davidson WildcatsDec 13
- W80-51vs Bethany (WV) BisonDec 7
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 | New Haven Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-49 | 21-43 |
| Field goal % | 49 | 49 |
| Three-pointers | 6-14 | 3-15 |
| Three-point % | 43 | 20 |
| Free throws | 7-7 | 12-17 |
| Free throw % | 100 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 22 | 28 |
| Offensive rebounds | 3 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 19 | 22 |
| Assists | 13 | 10 |
| Steals | 7 | 6 |
| Blocks | 3 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 8 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 30 |
| Fouls | 14 | 12 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 11 | 11 |
| Time in front | 37 | 43 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half24-24Najimi George makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half24-26Jabri Fitzpatrick makes layup
- 1st Half27-26Jake Lemelman makes 26-foot three point jumper (Christian Gamble assists)
- 1st Half27-28Jabri Fitzpatrick makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half27-30Jabri Fitzpatrick makes layup
- 2nd Half27-31Najimi George makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half27-32Najimi George makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half29-32Qadir Martin makes layup (Bernie Blunt III assists)
- 2nd Half29-34Jabri Fitzpatrick makes layup
- 2nd Half32-34Jake Lemelman makes 23-foot three point jumper (Qadir Martin assists)
- 2nd Half32-36Jabri Fitzpatrick makes 20-foot jumper
- 2nd Half34-36Qadir Martin makes layup
- 2nd Half36-36Bernie Blunt III makes layup (Cameron Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half36-38Najimi George makes layup (Maison Adeleye assists)
- 2nd Half38-38Christian Gamble makes layup (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half39-38Jake Lemelman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-38Jake Lemelman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half40-41Andre Pasha makes 22-foot three point jumper (Jabri Fitzpatrick assists)
- 2nd Half40-44Andre Pasha makes 24-foot three point jumper (Maison Adeleye assists)
- 2nd Half42-44Qadir Martin makes layup (Sean Lang assists)
- 2nd Half42-45Najimi George makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-45Bernie Blunt III makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-47Najimi George makes layup
- 2nd Half44-48Najimi George makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-49Najimi George makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-49Qadir Martin makes 2-foot dunk (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half48-49Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half48-50Maison Adeleye makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-50Bernie Blunt III makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half53-50Jake Lemelman makes layup (Deshaun Jackson Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half55-50Qadir Martin makes 2-foot jumper
- 2nd Half55-52Teshaun Steele makes layup
- 2nd Half55-53Teshaun Steele makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half56-53Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-53Bernie Blunt III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-55Najimi George makes layup
- 2nd Half57-57Andre Pasha makes 9-foot jumper (Jabri Fitzpatrick assists)
- 2nd Half59-57Jake Lemelman makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half60-57Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-57Deshaun Jackson Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours New Haven Chargers, below favours Mercyhurst Lakers.
Venue
- Jeffery P. Hazell Athletics CenterWest Haven, CT
- Attendance487
- OfficialsCraig Lastres, Michael Nardone, Brandon Kamil
Elsewhere
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- 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