Basketball (Men's) | 1/13/2015 3:40:00 PM

CLARION, Pa. – It will be a contrast in styles when Mercyhurst visits Clarion for PSAC West men's basketball tilt that starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Tippin Gym.
 
Clarion (6-7 overall, 4-6 PSAC West) prefers an up-tempo game that features 160 total possessions per game, while Mercyhurst (11-5, 8-3) is more comfortable in a slower-paced contest with the Lakers games averaging 130 possessions per game.
 
The possessions reflect in the number of points each team scores as well.
 
Clarion ranks ninth in the PSAC in points per game scoring 73.4 while reaching at least 75 points on seven difference occasions this year (53.8 percent of its games).
 
Mercyhurst, meanwhile, averages 67.8 points per game, the 16^th-best mark in the 18-team PSAC, and the Lakers have scored 75 or more just five times (31.3 percent of their games).  
 
On the other hand, fewer overall possessions also means Mercyhurst allows fewer points. The Lakers rank third in the PSAC allowing 64.3 points per game, while Clarion ranks 15^th allowing 75.9.
 
What Clarion does do well on defense is take the ball away. The Golden Eagles lead the PSAC and rank fifth in NCAA Division II in steals per game with 12.6 lead by Kyheim Hall, who is second on the conference and 16^th in the country in steals per game with 2.8.
 
Hall is also Clarion's second-leading scorer (11.9 ppg) and leading rebounder (6.6 rpg – 14^th in the PSAC). Darius Stevens leads the Golden Eagles in scoring with 13.2 ppg, the 18^th-best mark in the conference, while adding 6.2 rpg, which ranks 20^th in the PSAC., and BJ Andrews chips in with 10.2 points and 1.9 steals per game, the eighth-most steals in the PSAC. Freshman point guard Cameron Grumley adds 9.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 spg. He is 11^th in the PSAC in steals.  
 
Mercyhurst has just two players scoring in double figures led by Damon Jones' 11.4 points per contest. Gerrae Williams adds 10.3 ppg.
 
Following Wednesday's contest, Clarion hits the road for a pair of games. The Golden Eagles are at Edinboro at 3 p.m. Saturday and at Slippery Rock at 8 p.m. Jan. 21 before returning home for the start of a three-game home stand Jan. 24 when they host IUP.