Kent State Golden Flashes vs Mercyhurst Lakers Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Mercyhurst vs Kent State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Kent.

Mercyhurst vs Kent State Prediction

Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Lakers versus the Golden Flashes? Tip off is at at 5:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on NEC. The game will be played at MAC Center in Kent, OH. The over/under line for this matchup is currently at 127.5 points, and Kent State is favored by -19 at home against Mercyhurst.

Mercyhurst vs. Kent State Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Mercyhurst Lakers at Kent State Golden Flashes
Where: Kent at MAC Center
Date: Sunday, December 15th
Betting Odds KENTST -19, MRCY +1300 | KENTST -4166 O/U 127.5

Lakers Preview: Will the Lakers Pull Through as the Away Underdog?

Mercyhurst dropped to 3-6 on the season after a 77-73 home loss to Lafayette on Saturday. The Lakers, who were -4 favorites, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.

Mercyhurst led 38-31 at halftime but allowed 46 points in the second half while scoring 35. The total points for the game reached 150, surpassing the O/U line of 139.5.

Lakers Offense Breakdown

Mercyhurst's offense put up 73 points in their last game, shooting 47.1% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 58.8%, thanks to hitting 12 of 23 from beyond the arc at a 52.2% clip. They also connected on 76.5% of their free throws, going 13 for 17 from the line.

Alex Chaikin was a standout, knocking down 6 of 7 threes and finishing with 20 points on 7 of 8 shooting. Shemar Rathan-Mayes added 21 points and 4 assists, while Aidan Reichert was perfect from deep, hitting all 4 of his attempts and finishing with 18 points and 6 rebounds.

Lakers Team Defense

Despite Mercyhurst's efforts, they couldn't contain the opposing offense, allowing 77 points on 47% shooting from the field. The Lakers gave up 12 two-point field goals on 28 attempts, a 42% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, the opposition hit 12 of 23 threes, shooting 52%. They also went 13/17 from the free-throw line, shooting 76%. Mercyhurst allowed 6 offensive rebounds in the game.

Golden Flashes Preview: Will the Golden Flashes Pull Through as the Favored Home Team?

Kent State Golden Flashes Recent Game

Kent State improved to 6-2 on the season with a 76-57 home win over Portland on Friday. The Golden Flashes entered the game as -13.5 point favorites and covered the spread with the victory.

After leading 31-28 at halftime, Kent State's defense stepped up in the 2nd half, allowing just 29 points while scoring 45. The game’s total points of 133 fell short of the O/U line of 140.

Golden Flashes Offense Breakdown

Kent State put up 76 points in their last game, shooting 45.2% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 50.7%, with a two-point shooting percentage of 53.2% (25/47) and a three-point percentage of 30.8% (8/26). They were perfect from the free-throw line, hitting both of their attempts.

The Golden Flashes dished out 19 assists and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds. VonCameron Davis led the team with 16 points, shooting 53.8% overall and 40% from three. Cian Medley added 15 points and 6 assists, while Bol Dengdit contributed 12 points on 71.4% shooting, hitting 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.

Golden Flashes Team Defense

Despite giving up 57 points, Kent State's defense allowed their opponent to shoot 45% from the field, with 33 made baskets on 73 attempts. The Golden Flashes struggled to contain two-point shots, where their opponent connected on 25 of 47 attempts, good for 53%.

From beyond the arc, Kent State held their opponent to 30% shooting, as they made 8 of 26 three-point attempts. The Golden Flashes sent their opponent to the free-throw line just twice, where they converted both attempts. Kent State also allowed 13 offensive rebounds in the game.

Lakers vs Golden Flashes Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

In their last three road games, Mercyhurst has averaged 60 points per game while allowing 76. The team's record in this stretch was 1-2 while going 2-1.
Across their last five home contests, Kent State has been good against the spread posting a mark of 3-2. Their overall mark in these games was 3-2, while averaging 59 points per game.
In their last three games as the betting underdog, the Lakers have a straight up record of 1-2 and an ATS mark of 2-1.
In their last ten games as the betting favorite, the Golden Flashes have a straight up record of 9-1 and an ATS mark of 6-4.