Mercer University
S.C. Upstate
Thomas, Hall Lift Mercer to A-Sun Championship Final with 72-64 Win over USC Upstate
3/8/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MACON, Ga. - Junior guard Langston Hall scored the 1,000th point of his career and Bud Thomas tallied a career-high 20 points to lead the Mercer men's basketball team to a sensational 72-64 win over USC Upstate in General Shale Atlantic Sun Championship semifinal action on Friday at Hawkins Arena.
The Bears' triumph advanced the team to the A-Sun Championship final for the first time since 2010 while keeping the team unbeaten at home this season.
Mercer moved to 23-10 (14-4 A-Sun) on the season while USC Upstate saw its season end at 16-17 (9-9 A-Sun). Mercer's win was its 17th-straight at Hawkins Arena and ninth-straight over USC Upstate.
Thomas' scoring output was powered by three-of-six shooting from long range and came in conjunction with six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Hall hit five-of-11 from beyond the arc en route to 18 points, four rebounds, six assists and a block.
Thomas and Hall each contributed big plays at opportune times for the Bears in a back-and-forth battle that featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes. In the first nine minutes of game time, the Bears had built a 14-8 lead before USC Upstate ripped off eight unanswered to take a 16-14 lead at the 8:50 juncture. With 3:48 left before halftime, Mercer's deficit was still two before Hall and junior Jakob Gollon canned three's to send the Bears to the break leading 34-30.
Mercer's lead jumped to seven early in the second half, but the Spartans came right back with a 10-0 run to stake a 47-44 lead with 11:13 to play. With less than five minutes to go, the teams were knotted at 57-57 before the Bears' defense clamped down and held the Spartans without a field goal for 4:24 of game time. At the end of that stretch, Mercer had assumed a 68-59 advantage with just 36 seconds remaining. The Bears also benefitted from perfect five-of-five free throw shooting in the final minute while securing the win.
Hall and Thomas' long-range barrage contributed to the team's season high 14 three-pointers. The Bears have now scored 70 or more in three-straight games and posted victories in 11 of the last 12 outings.
The top seeded Bears are now set to go for the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985 on Saturday afternoon. The Bears will square off against No. 2 Florida Gulf Coast in the championship final noon in Hawkins Arena.
