ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — A tight Northeast Conference rematch is set for Thursday when the Mercyhurst Lakers host the Wagner Seahawks at Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers (13-14) edged the Seahawks (9-16) 70-69 in Staten Island just over a month ago on Jan. 10, a result that will undoubtedly be on Wagner’s mind as it seeks to level the season series and improve its standing in the conference. Mercyhurst enters with momentum from a 94-79 road victory at Saint Francis (PA) on Feb. 14, powered by a career-high 31 points from standout guard Bernie Blunt. The junior has been on a scoring tear, averaging 24.4 points over his last five games and establishing himself as the focal point of the Lakers’ offense. Wagner looks to bounce back from an 83-65 loss at Long Island on Monday. The Seahawks will lean on guard Nick Jones, who has shown high-scoring capability with outings of 24, 26, and 17 points in recent weeks, though he was held to just five points in the most recent defeat. His playmaking will be crucial against a Mercyhurst defense that has allowed an average of 68.5 points in conference play. The matchup features two teams jockeying for position ahead of the conference tournament. Mercyhurst sits just below .500 in NEC play, while Wagner seeks to string together wins to climb out of the lower tier. The Lakers have been strong at home, winning three of their last four at the Athletic Center. Beyond the star guards, the battle in the paint will be key. Mercyhurst’s Qadir Martin is coming off a 23-point, 8-rebound performance, while Wagner will need production from Travis Gray and Binael Basil to control the glass. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game is part of a full slate of NEC action this weekend, with Mercyhurst set to host Long Island on Saturday and Wagner traveling to face Saint Francis (PA).