SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Back at home following its first action away from the Bay Area, the University of San Francisco men's basketball team (5-2) returns to the Hilltop for a matinee matchup as the Dons are set to welcome Mercyhurst (5-4) to War Memorial at the Sobrato Center on Sunday afternoon.
 
GAME 8 INFORMATION:
Date: Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024
Time: 4:00 pm
Opponent: Mercyhurst (5-4)
Location: War Memorial at the Sobrato Center / San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+ (Ben Ross, Ben Braun)
Listen: KNBR 1050 (Pat Olson, Jim Brovelli)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• In their last time out, San Francisco finished third in the Sunshine Slam in Daytona Beach on Nov. 25 + 26 as the Dons fell to Clemson, 70-55, in the opening round of action before racing past Fordham, 85-64, in the third-place game of the tournament.
• For his efforts in Daytona Beach, Marcus Williams earned All-Tournament team honors after averaging 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game on 50.0 percent shooting, including 41.7 percent from beyond-the-arc.
• Steady on defense through the first seven games, San Francisco currently ranks 33^rd nationally in scoring defense (63.4 points per game) and 34^th nationally in field goal percentage defense (37.9 percent). Additionally, the Dons rank in the top 70 in Division I in scoring margin (13.7, 59^th) and turnovers forced per game (15.1, 66^th).
• Efficient at getting to the charity stripe so far this season, Malik Thomas currently leads the West Coast Conference and is 23^rd nationally with 41 free throws made. Notably, his 49 free throw attempts also ranks second in the WCC and 45^th nationally.
• Offensively, the magic number for San Francisco is 80 points as the Dons are 5-0 this year when scoring 80+ points and 0-2 when they score less than 80 points. As a team, the green and gold have also outshot their opponents in all five games when they have finished with 80+ points. 

SCOUTING THE LAKERS:

• Beginning a West Coast swing earlier this week, Mercyhurst fell on the road at California, 81-55, on Wednesday, Nov. 27 before pulling out a victory at Sacramento State, 66-60, on Saturday, Nov. 30. In their win over the Hornets, Bernie Blunt III finished with a game-high 25 points while Jeff Planutis (20 points) and Aidan Reichert (11 points) also finished in double figures for the Lakers.
• Through seven games, Planutis (14.2 points), Reichert (11.1 points) and Blunt III (10.7) are also the three Lakers to average double figures. On the glass, Reichert (4.9 rebounds per game) leads the team in rebounding while Shemar Rathan-Mayes paces the team in assists (3.6 per game).
• Prior to the season, Mercyhurst was picked seventh out of nine teams in the 2024-25 Northeastern Conference (NEC) Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. Notably, Planutis was one of five student-athletes named to the 2024-25 Preseason All-NEC Men's Basketball Team after earning PSAC West First Team honors in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.
• Sunday's meeting with Mercyhurst will be San Francisco's second meeting with a team from the NEC as the Dons previously downed Chicago State, 82-37, on Saturday, Nov. 16.
• Over the summer, Mercyhurst made the transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I as the Lakers accepted an invitation to join the NEC. Beginning in fall 2024, all sports at Mercyhurst began competing at the Division I level. Similar to other transitioning programs, the Lakers will not be eligible for the NCAA Tournament in their first four years at the Division I level, but they will be able to compete immediately in the NEC's conference tournament under the conference's new rule change made prior to last season.

SERIES HISTORY:
Sunday's meeting between San Francisco and Mercyhurst will mark the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the San Francisco men's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsMBB on Twitter, @USFDonsMBB on Instagram and @USFDonsMBB on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor - Toyota - for their continued support of San Francisco Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.