Mercer University
Piedmont
Men's Basketball Rolls Piedmont in Opener, 88-48
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – A sell-out crowd was on hand at Hawkins Arena on Friday evening as the Mercer men's basketball team unveiled its 2014 championship banners and rolled to a season opening 88-48 victory over Piedmont.
Mercer won its seventh-straight home opener under head coach Bob Hoffman and moved to 1-0 for the seventh time in the last eight years. NCAA Division III member Piedmont classified the game an exhibition.
Junior Ike Nwamu led all scorers with 22 points, including 16 in the first half. Junior Phillip Leonard scored 10 and handed out a career-high seven assists in his debut as starting point guard, while freshman Jordan Strawberry chipped in 11 points off the bench.
Throughout the night Mercer got easy looks inside, outscoring Piedmont 44-14 in the paint. Senior Darious Moten, senior T.J. Hallice, and freshman Niklas Ney combined for 23 of the paint points.
After a festive pregame ceremony revealed three championship banners, Mercer supporters roared with approval as Hallice hit the first bucket of the year, stepping into a straightaway three at the 17:44 mark. Mercer grabbed its first lead just moments later, when Nwamu sliced the defense for an and-one layup and a 6-4 Bears advantage.
A feisty Piedmont team wouldn't go away, trading scores over the next few minutes before taking a 9-8 lead into the first media timeout.
Mercer finally took control as a Hallice tip-in at the 11:22 mark sparked a 15-0 run elapsing over six minutes of game time. The Bears forced five turnovers during the span and led 27-12 with less than five minutes before intermission.
After the Bears took a 42-21 lead into halftime, Piedmont nailed five of its first six 3-pointers to get within 17 at the 14:29 juncture. Hallice and Leonard scored the game's next four points, and the Bears cruised the rest of the way en route to the fifth 40-plus point victory in the last three seasons.
Nwamu was an efficient 7-of-12 from the floor while adding three rebounds and a block in 25 minutes of work. Hallice led the way on the glass, grabbing a game-high eight rebounds to go along with seven points.
Strawberry scored his 11 points in just 16 minutes of action for the bulk of Mercer's 33 bench points. All told, 12 of Mercer's 15 active players scored on Friday night.
Mercer continues non-conference play on Sunday, traveling to Seton Hall for a 12 p.m. tip.
