ORANGE GAME DAY: Syracuse men’s basketball seeks bounce-back win vs. Mercyhurst (preview)

Syracuse men’s basketball (6-4) continues a stretch of December home games tonight when it hosts Mercyhurst (4-7) at the JMA Wireless Dome, with tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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The Orange play the fourth contest of a seven-game homestand before ACC play begins. Syracuse enters the matchup having gone 2-1 since returning home earlier this month, posting wins over then-No. 13 Tennessee and Saint Joseph’s before suffering a frustrating setback to Hofstra last weekend.

Mercyhurst arrives in Central New York in its second Division I season after a 15-win campaign a year ago. The Lakers are averaging 65.6 points per game and are led by graduate guard Bernie Blunt III, who is scoring 17.7 points per contest. Sophomore Jake Lemelman provides an additional perimeter threat, shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range.

This marks the first-ever meeting between Syracuse and Mercyhurst. The Orange are looking to improve to 7-1 at the dome this season.