Mercer University
Kennesaw State
Men's Basketball Edges Kennesaw State for 20th Win
2/10/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Mercer men's basketball team outlasted an upset-minded Kennesaw State squad on Friday, erasing a six-point second-half deficit to achieve a 61-57 victory at the KSU Convocation Center. Mercer's ninth-straight win solidified the program's first 20-win season in nine years and pushed the Bears' season mark to 20-7 (12-2 A-Sun).
Four Mercer players scored in double figures in the win, led by a 17-point effort from redshirt sophomore Jakob Gollon. Gollon also booked seven assists, four steals and four rebounds in the victory.
"It's just another step in the direction we want to head," Mercer head coach Bob Hoffman said. "It's what you would believe if you knew our guys – that they would find a way to win in as tough of an atmosphere I've been in on the road."
Kennesaw State (3-23, 0-14 A-Sun) pulled out all the stops on Friday, using a variety of marketing efforts to attract a KSU Convocation Center record crowd of 4,991. More than 400 Mercer fans were also on-hand as a caravan from the Macon campus joined a Mercer alumni contingency at the game.
The raucous crowd reached a fever-pitch in the second half when Kennesaw State reeled off an 18-6 run to take a 42-36 lead with 13:26 left in regulation. That's when Mercer turned to Gollon to lead a comeback.
Gollon responded with seven points in two minutes, sparking a 13-2 Mercer run that placed the Bears back in front by five (49-44) with 9:07 to play. From there, Kennesaw State would not regain the lead.
Gollon's 17 points came on six-of-eight shooting from the field, matching his best shooting performance of the season. Gollon was also six-of-eight from the floor at Stetson on January 28, 2011 and versus Chattanooga on December 10, 2011.
Bud Thomas netted 14 points and contributed three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals in the win. Monty Brown booked 12 points and five rebounds while Langston Hall chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
After taking a 27-24 lead into halftime, Mercer seemed poised for a hot start in the second half when Thomas drilled a step-back three pointer on the first possession. Moments later, Justin Cecil stole the ball on the defensive end and hit Thomas on a breakaway. Thomas missed the uncontested dunk and attempted to grab the ball while still hanging on the rim and was whistled for a technical foul.
That whistle shifted momentum of the game as the Owls earned two easy points and possession. The free throws ignited the aforementioned KSU charge that saw the hosts go on top 42-36.
KSU earned its first lead of the evening when Markeith Cummings weaved through traffic and scored a layup that capped a personal 7-0 run and gave the Owls a 14-12 lead with 9:39 left before halftime.
Gollon halted Cummings' streak when he ripped the ball from a KSU player who had momentarily grabbed a defensive rebound. Gollon dished underneath to Thomas, who scored a layup to knot the score at 14 apiece.
For the next few minutes, the Mercer offense seemed to run exclusively through Gollon as he scored or assisted on seven of Mercer's next nine points.
All told, Gollon scored or assisted on 16 of Mercer's 27 first half points and Mercer led by three at the half. In the first period, Mercer had twice as many field goals (12) as KSU, but the Owls hit 12 free throws in comparison to one charity toss for the Bears.
Hoffman's club has now notched the seventh 20-win season in the 106-year history of the program. When asked about that achievement, Hoffman deferred the credit.
"When those things happen it means everyone is doing what they can to help," Hoffman said. "The administration, the support staff and the whole university supporting us has led us to this point."
Mercer returns to action on the road in an A-Sun battle against Jacksonville on February 18. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
