Box Score
MACON, Ga. - The Mercer University men’s basketball team completed its table-turning ways on the Atlantic Sun Conference’s teams from South Florida by notching a 78-72 win over Florida Gulf Coast University on Monday evening at the University Center. The Bears evened their record at 11-11 overall and 7-5 in the A-Sun, while the Eagles dropped to 7-15 and 4-9 in the league.
Just last weekend, MU was toppled by FGCU in Ft. Myers, Fla., 71-70, after also losing to Stetson two days earlier in the Sunshine State. Mercer not only earned the win over the Eagles on Monday, but also got revenge over the Hatters on Saturday in Macon, as well.
MU took the lead on the game’s first bucket and then saw FGCU grab the upper hand with 16:30 left in the half. The Bears finally reclaimed the advantage at the 13:36 juncture on a three-pointer from
E.J. Kusnyer.
The Bears quickly ran that margin to double figures and made it hold up throughout the half. Mercer led by as much as 16 points, before carrying a 13-point cushion, 36-23, into the locker room.
It may have felt like the most uncomfortable double-digit lead ever. That’s because MU’s leading scorer,
James Florence, was held scoreless in a half of basketball for the first time since Dayton blanked him in the second half on November 25, 2008.
“They had a good game plan for guarding (Florence),” said Mercer head coach
Bob Hoffman. “They did a good job of switching defenses. They were mixing it up and we were off balance.’
The Eagles opened the second half on fire and used their momentum – and the Bears’ cold shooting (1-for-8 from the field) during that span – to get themselves back in the game. FGCU was able to draw to within two points, 40-38, after a technical foul was called on Florence and the Eagles’ converted both free throws by Reed Baker (13 points) at 13:06 left in the game.
Immediately after that, however, Florence did finally register his first points of the game after making 1-of-2 free throws on a personal foul, which was also assessed against the FGCU on the play, as well.
It wasn’t until 2:50 left in the game that the Bears were able to re-establish a double-digit lead on a break-away layup by Kusnyer that made it 68-58 to give the Mercer team some breathing room.
“I thought our post players were tremendous tonight,” said Hoffman. “All three of them played very well.”
Kusnyer led the Bears’ team with 22 points on a seven-for-15 night shooting from the field, also going six-for-14 from three-point range, to lead a quartet of double-figure scorers for the Bears. It was Kusnyer’s 14th double-digit scoring game this season and his third game with 20 or more points in 2009-10.
Senior forward
Daniel Emerson booked his fourth-consecutive double-double game – and 14
th of the season – thanks to his 19 points and game-leading 15 rebounds. Emerson hit five-of-10 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
Brandon Moore had another stellar performance off the MU bench. Moore tallied 12 points, hitting on four-of-seven shot attempts. Teammate
Brian Mills contributed 11 points to the winning cause.
Conspicuously absent from the list of leading scorers was Florence. The senior finished the night with eight points and five rebounds. That point total snapped Florence’s streak of what was the second-longest active string of double-digit scoring games, at 42 contests.
FGCU’s Anthony Banks had a double-double, as well, with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Next up for the Bears will be regional rival Kennesaw State on Thursday, Feb. 4 (7:30 p.m.).