Schedule!

Mercyhurst has released the 2011-12 men's basketball schedule. The Lakers host Urbana (OH) in the season-opener November 12, the first of their 14 games at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.
Hurst will first travel to Ohio University for an exhibition against the Bobcats November 7. After the home opener against Urbana, the Lakers hit the road for three straight games, facing Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Divison foes Millersville and West Chester before heading to Lake Erie College.
The 2011-12 campaign is the first for the new PSAC format, where teams will play all eight squads from the opposite division one time. On the weekend of December 3-4, Kutztown and East Stroudsburg come to the MAC for crossover contests. Mercyhurst then goes to Mansfield for a game against the defending East champions on December 9. The following day, Bloomsburg hosts the Lakers. 
The Mercyhurst Invitational starts December 17, with three programs arriving at the MAC. This year's field features Bowie State, who won 23 games last season on its way to the NCAA Tournament, Washington Adventist, and Roberts Wesleyan. Hurst hosts Bowie on December 17 and then Washington Adventist on December 18. 
Coach Gary Manchel's group begins 2012 with another two-game home stand on January 6-7, as East teams Shippensburg and Cheyney come to town. From there, conference play begins at Clarion January 11. Home games against Slippery Rock, Gannon, and Indiana (Pa.) will be played the week of January 14-21. 
The Lakers travel to Edinboro January 25 and then California (Pa.) January 28 before hosting Lock Haven February 1 to end the first round of West competition. They face each of their West rivals once more, wrapping up the regular season at Lock Haven February 25.
Mercyhurst went 20-7 last season, including an 11-3 mark in the West. The team went on an 11-game winning streak from January 9-February 12. Luis Leao, the team's second-leading scorer and top rebounder a year ago, returns to the 2011-12 edition.