Mercer University
S.C. Upstate
Men's Basketball Tops USC Upstate for Fifth-Straight Win
2/14/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer junior Bud Thomas netted 18 first-half points to lead the Bears in a 70-59 wire-to-wire victory over USC Upstate at the Hodge Center on Thursday night. Mercer's fifth-straight win lifted the team to 17-9 (10-3 A-Sun) while USC Upstate dropped its fourth consecutive decision and fell to 13-13 (7-7 A-Sun).
Junior Jakob Gollon registered the second double-double of his career with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Junior Langston Hall netted nine, while senior Travis Smith and junior Monty Brown each scored eight.
A deadly combination of long-range shooting and inside scoring from Thomas and Daniel Coursey saw the tandem combine for 24 first-half points as Mercer staked an 11-point lead at halftime. In the second half, the Bears would go ahead by as many as 22 en route to the win.
Coursey got Mercer out to a 4-0 lead with layups on the first two possessions, and Thomas kept the momentum going with an impressive long-range barrage. Thomas canned four three pointers in the opening 10 minutes of play, helping the Orange and Black assume a nine-point lead midway through the half.
Mercer's advantage would swell to 17-8 as Coursey came off a back-door screen and crammed home an alley-oop dunk - courtesy of a Hall assist - at the 8:53 juncture.
The Spartans' dynamic scoring duo of Ty Green and Torrey Craig did their best to keep things close, scoring eight points in 96 seconds to keep the hosts in striking distance. Thomas got the last laugh, however, knocking down another two trifectas in the closing minute of the half to send Mercer into the locker room ahead 31-20.
All 18 of Thomas' points came on three pointers in the first half as the Highlands Ranch, Colorado native finished the evening one point shy of a career high. His six three-pointers established a career best and came in conjunction with seven rebounds, an assist and a block.
At the start of the second half, Mercer had a comfortable lead until Craig buried a three pointer to bring his team within eight, at 43-35. Gollon retaliated with his own three-ball the next time down, igniting a furious 10-0 run in just 65 seconds to put Mercer up 53-35. From there, the Bears' lead would balloon to as many as 22 before the final whistle.
Mercer returns to Atlantic Sun play at East Tennessee State on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
