The Northeast Conference Tournament championship brings an intriguing subplot as Mercyhurst travels to Brooklyn to face Long Island University on Tuesday night. LIU enters the game with a strong 23-10 record and a dominant 15-3 conference mark, while Mercyhurst arrives at 17-16 after an impressive run through the bracket. The Sharks have already locked up this NCAA Tournament automatic bid, but I'll make my Mercyhurst vs Long Island University prediction for the NEC title game nonetheless.
Pick: Long Island University -6.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Mercyhurst enters the NEC championship riding strong form. The Lakers have won four of their last five games, including a 56-51 victory against Stonehill in the semifinals. Their success has largely come from slowing the pace and forcing opponents into half court offense. Unfortunately, because Mercyhurst is transitioning into Division I, they are ineligible to play in the NCAA Tournament. Therefore, they are just playing for pride here.
LIU has been one of the most consistent teams in the conference all season. The Sharks finished with 23 wins and have already booked their place in the NCAA Tournament. Their offense has been efficient, shooting close to 48% from the field, and they often generate second chances with strong rebounding numbers. The question for the Sharks will be whether they can play to their full potential knowing they're in the tournament no matter what happens here.
Another factor is familiarity. These teams met less than three weeks ago in a high-scoring contest where Mercyhurst prevailed 91-83. LIU will be eager to correct the defensive issues that allowed the Lakers to erupt for their highest scoring output of the season.
Stat | Mercyhurst | LIU |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 69.3 | 73.9 |
Points allowed per game | 67.0 | 71.2 |
Team Field Goal % | 45% | 48% |
Rebounds per game | 32.7 | 35.0 |
Assists per game | 14.6 | 13.6 |
Score Projection: Mercyhurst 70 – LIU 79 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Mercyhurst 42%, LIU 58% ATS PRO
Mercyhurst has already proven it can beat LIU, and the Lakers have developed a reputation for keeping games close with disciplined defense and efficient scoring from Bernie Blunt III. However, a comparison of the overall body of work still favors the Sharks. LIU has the deeper roster, a stronger rebounding edge, and one of the most productive offenses in the conference. The Sharks will play with pride and prove that they are more than worthy of a trip to March Madness.
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