ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — A surging Long Island men’s basketball team looks to continue its push near the top of the Northeast standings when it visits a Mercyhurst squad seeking consistency Saturday at Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Sharks (19-9) have won eight of their last 10 games, including a thrilling 91-89 road victory at Saint Francis (PA) on Thursday. Guard Jomo Goings, coming off an 18-point, 3-assist performance in that win, has been a catalyst. He averaged 16.3 points over a recent three-game stretch and provides steady backcourt leadership. Long Island’s depth was on display against Saint Francis, with Greg Gordon and Jamal Fuller joining Goings in scoring 18 points each. The Sharks’ defense has also been formidable, holding opponents under 60 points in three of their last six wins. The Lakers (13-15) are looking to rebound from a tough 83-80 overtime home loss to Wagner on Thursday, despite a 24-point effort from standout guard Bernie Blunt. Blunt has been a prolific scorer, averaging 24.4 points over his last five games and erupting for 31 points and 8 rebounds in a win over Saint Francis (PA) on Feb. 14. His matchup with Goings will be pivotal. Mercyhurst has shown flashes, winning three of its last five, but closing out tight games has been an issue. Three of their last six losses have been by four points or fewer. This is a rematch of a Jan. 8 clash, which Long Island won 60-58 at home. In that game, the Sharks contained Blunt to 14 points. With the conference tournament approaching, Long Island aims to solidify its seeding, while Mercyhurst needs a signature win to climb back to .500. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon.