Men’s basketball wins first regional championship, advances to NCAA Elite Eight
It was a season to remember for the Mercyhurst men’s basketball team. Head Coach Gary Manchel’s squad set a school record for wins with 26, while capturing its frst regional championship and advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight in Evansville, Indiana, for the frst time. With leadership from Pat Smith and Brown University transfer Jason Massey, the Lakers started the season 7-1 and went 14-2 at home. There were many memorable victories along the way, including becoming the only team to defeat IUP on its home court behind a game- winning 3-pointer from Trystan Pratapas on Feb. 2.
Mercyhurst stormed through the PSAC Conference Tournament, defeating Seton Hill at home in the frst round, knocking of Slippery Rock on the road in the quarterfnals and East Stroudsburg in the semifnals, before falling to IUP in the Conference Championship. But the Lakers earned the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Atlantic Regional and defeated Fairmont State 63-60 in overtime in the frst round on a game-winning 3-pointer from Smith. The next night, the Lakers downed No. 2 IUP on its home court once again, 75-65, before capturing the Regional Championship with an 82-70 victory over No. 5 West Liberty, behind stellar foor
leadership from Derrick Ellis Jr. Smith was named All-Tournament MVP for his eforts. Mercyhurst fell 55-51 to undefeated Northwest Missouri State in the Elite Eight, but the Lakers came as close as anyone to beating the eventual national champion. The City of Erie rallied behind Mercyhurst, as Mayor Joe Schember congratulated the team in person on April 4 at City Hall, while the Lakers threw out the frst pitch at an Erie SeaWolves baseball game later in the month.
Owen McCormick makes significant donation to Laker for Life Campaign and basketball programs
Erie businessman and philanthropist Owen J. McCormick has made a signifcant fnancial gift to Laker for Life – The Campaign for Mercyhurst Athletics, and specifcally the Mercyhurst basketball programs. “I have known Owen McCormick as a businessman, a former Mercyhurst trustee, and personal friend for many years,” said President Michael T. Victor. “We are most grateful for his continued generosity toward Mercyhurst, the most recent of which will go a long way toward enhancing the overall athletic experience at the university.”
The owner of the Erie BayHawks, McCormick’s passion for basketball is well-known in the Erie community. As part of the athletics campaign, the university will rename its court the Owen J. McCormick Basketball Court. “I’m extremely grateful to Mercyhurst for all that it has done for generations of students and for the many ways in which it has contributed to the Erie community,” McCormick said. “I’m particularly supportive of the great job that President (Michael) Victor is doing. I have a deep respect for him as a businessman and as a personal friend.”
Pat Smith has memorable year on and of the court Pat Smith became a Mercyhurst sensation for more reasons than just basketball this year. The 28-year-old Navy veteran was the NCAA Atlantic Regional MVP, leading Mercyhurst to its frst Elite Eight appearance. But that’s just where Smith’s story begins. Smith sang the lead in Mercyhurst’s spring opera production of Don Pasquale , and he was honored with the Catherine McAuley Adult Student Award at commencement. Finally, Smith, a Maryland native, sang the National Anthem at the Baltimore Orioles-New York Yankees game at Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 22 thanks to a little help from Kristen Hudak ’05, director of public relations for the Orioles.
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