Men’s Basketball Picked Second in 2026-27 NEC Preseason Poll; Lemelman, Rainwater Named Preseason All-NEC

ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst University men’s basketball team has been picked to finish second in the 2026-27 NEC Men’s Basketball Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league’s head coaches. The Lakers received two first-place votes. Junior guard Jake Lemelman and senior guard/forward Tennessee Rainwater were also named to the Preseason All-NEC Team. Mercyhurst enters the season coming off a 17-17 campaign (10-8 NEC) that ended in the NEC Championship game. The Lakers clinched the No. 3 seed with a 75-72 overtime win at Stonehill in the regular-season finale, then beat FDU 70-61 in the quarterfinals and Stonehill 56-51…