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GAME COVERAGE
LOCATION | University Park, Pa. (Bryce Jordan Center)
TIME | 6:30 PM
WATCH| BIG+ - Rocco Pellegrino & Alex Harkins
RADIO | Penn State Sports Network – 103.7 FM & 1450 AM – Steve Jones & Dick Jerardi
THE OPENING TIP
Penn State returns to the Bryce Jordan Center Thursday night to host in-state foe Mercyhurst at 6:30 p.m. on B1G+. The Nittany Lions enter the contest 2-1 overall, while the Lakers carry a 1-2 record into University Park.
Thursday’s matchup marks the first-ever meeting between Penn State and Mercyhurst on the hardwood.
The Nittany Lions look to remain unbeaten at home after opening the 2026-27 campaign with victories over Canisius (97-57) and Chattanooga (97-93).
Penn State is coming off its first setback of the season, falling 82-76 to Pitt in the 150th meeting between the longtime in-state rivals Sunday night at The Palestra in Philadelphia.
The Nittany Lions are averaging an impressive 90.0 points per game through their first three contests, with five players averaging double figures.
Penn State has been dominant on the glass, averaging 40.7 rebounds per contest while outrebounding opponents by 12.0 boards per game.
Sophomore forward Ivan Jurić has recorded a double-double in each of Penn State’s first three games, averaging 15.0 points and a team-best 12.7 rebounds per contest.
Fifth-year forward Roko Prkačin leads the Nittany Lions in scoring at 17.3 points per game while shooting a remarkable 83.3 percent (20-for-24) from the field.
THE SERIES: PENN STATE VS. MERCYHURST
Penn State and Mercyhurst will square off for the first time in program history Thursday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The matchup features two Pennsylvania institutions separated by approximately 200 miles, with the Lakers making the trip from Erie to University Park.
Mercyhurst competes in the Northeast Conference (NEC), having transitioned from NCAA Division II to Division I beginning with the 2024-25 academic year.
The Lakers reached the NEC Championship game during the 2025-26 campaign, establishing themselves as a contender early in their Division I tenure.
Thursday’s matchup also marks Mercyhurst’s third road contest against a high-major opponent this season, following trips to Marquette and Notre Dame.
LAST TIME OUT: PITT 82, PENN STATE 76
Penn State suffered its first loss of the 2026-27 campaign Sunday night, falling 82-76 against Pitt in the 150th meeting between the two Pennsylvania rivals at The Palestra.
Sophomore forward Ivan Jurić continued his strong start to the season, securing his third consecutive double-double with a season-high 16 points and 13 rebounds. Jurić converted nine of his 10 attempts from the charity stripe while adding an assist and a steal.
Graduate guard Dasonte Bowen paced the Nittany Lions offensively with a season-high 17 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the floor and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Bowen also dished out two assists.
Fifth-year forwards Roko Prkačin and Josh Reed each contributed 11 points and seven rebounds, giving Penn State four players in double figures.
Penn State held a 37-28 advantage on the glass and collected 12 offensive rebounds in the contest.
The Nittany Lions continued to find success at the free throw line, converting 29 of their 36 attempts (80.6 percent).
The contest featured 10 lead changes and nine ties, with the Nittany Lions leading by as many as seven points during the first half.
Penn State held Pitt to just five made 3-pointers, but the Panthers shot 49.2 percent from the field and scored 48 points in the paint to secure the victory.
JURIĆ’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE DOMINANCE
Sophomore forward Ivan Jurić has opened the 2026-27 campaign with three consecutive double-doubles, emerging as one of Penn State’s most consistent performers.
The Zagreb, Croatia native is averaging 15.0 points and a team-leading 12.7 rebounds per contest through the opening three games.
Jurić has already collected 38 total rebounds, including an impressive 15 offensive boards, averaging 5.0 offensive rebounds per contest.
He has recorded double-digit rebounds in all three games this season, highlighted by a 13-rebound performance against Pitt on Sunday.
Jurić has also been productive at the free throw line, converting 23 of his 29 attempts (79.3 percent), including a 9-for-10 showing against the Panthers.
The sophomore enters Thursday’s matchup with an opportunity to extend his double-double streak to four consecutive games.
PRKAČIN MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Fifth-year forward Roko Prkačin has made an immediate impact in the Blue & White, leading the Nittany Lions with 17.3 points per game.
Through his first three games, Prkačin has converted an incredible 20 of his 24 field goal attempts, shooting a team-best 83.3 percent.
Prkačin has totaled 52 points and 19 rebounds while averaging 6.3 boards and 2.3 assists per contest.
The Croatian forward has also proven to be a reliable presence at the charity stripe, converting 12 of his 15 free throw attempts (80.0 percent).
Prkačin recorded 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss to Pitt, while adding two assists and two steals.
The addition of Prkačin has strengthened an already talented Penn State frontcourt, joining returners Ivan Jurić and Josh Reed.
REED PROVIDING A RELIABLE PRESENCE
Fifth-year forward Josh Reed has continued to provide veteran leadership and consistent production for the Nittany Lions during the opening stretch of the season.
Reed ranks second on the team in scoring with 16.0 points per game and is averaging 4.7 rebounds per contest.
The veteran forward is shooting 50.0 percent from the field and an impressive 91.7 percent from the charity stripe, converting 22 of his 24 free throw attempts.
Reed delivered a standout performance in Penn State’s 97-93 victory over Chattanooga, tying his career high with 25 points while knocking down a career-best 15 free throws on 16 attempts.
Defensively, Reed leads the Nittany Lions with seven steals through three contests, averaging 2.3 per game.
Reed is one of three Penn State players, alongside Prkačin and Jurić, averaging at least 15.0 points per game.
BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
Penn State has displayed impressive offensive balance through the opening three contests, with five players averaging double figures in scoring.
Roko Prkačin (17.3), Josh Reed (16.0), Ivan Jurić (15.0), Dasonte Bowen (11.7) and François Wibaut (11.0) have powered the Nittany Lions offensively.
The five players have combined to score 213 of Penn State’s 270 points this season, accounting for 78.9 percent of the team’s total offensive production.
The Nittany Lions are averaging 90.0 points per game and have eclipsed the 95-point mark twice, scoring 97 points against both Canisius and Chattanooga.
Penn State is shooting 48.2 percent from the field while averaging 14.0 assists per contest.
The Nittany Lions have also made the most of their opportunities at the free throw line, shooting 81.6 percent as a team.
CONTROLLING THE GLASS
Penn State has established a strong presence on the boards during the opening three games, outrebounding its opponents by a combined 122-86 margin.
The Nittany Lions are averaging 40.7 rebounds per game while limiting opponents to 28.7, good for a plus-12.0 rebounding margin.
Penn State has pulled down 41 offensive rebounds, an average of 13.7 per contest.
Ivan Jurić leads the team with 38 rebounds, while Roko Prkačin has added 19 and Josh Reed has collected 14.
The Nittany Lions secured a 40-30 rebounding advantage against Chattanooga before following with a 37-28 edge over Pitt.
Penn State will look to maintain its advantage on the glass against a Mercyhurst team averaging 34.0 rebounds per game.
MAKING THE MOST OF THE FREE THROW LINE
Penn State has consistently generated opportunities at the charity stripe, attempting 114 free throws through its first three games.
The Nittany Lions are averaging 38.0 free throw attempts per contest while converting 31.0 per game.
Penn State is shooting 81.6 percent from the line, making 93 of its 114 attempts.
Josh Reed leads the team in free throw percentage at 91.7 percent (22-for-24), while Dasonte Bowen has converted 86.7 percent (13-for-15).
Ivan Jurić has attempted a team-high 29 free throws, connecting on 23 for a 79.3 percent clip.
Penn State converted 29 free throws against Pitt, marking its second consecutive game with at least 29 made free throws.