Mercer University
1-0
Allen
2-2
Mercer Rolls Past Allen 96-70 in Season Opener
11/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer got the 2015-16 men's basketball season underway in grand fashion on Friday evening inside Hawkins Arena, raising a banner to honor last season's CBI appearance followed by a convincing 96-70 win over Allen University.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears led the opener from start to finish on Friday evening. After gaining an 11-9 advantage through the opening seven minutes, the Orange and Black ripped off a 15-0 run over the next five minutes of action to take complete control of the game at 26-9. Mercer finished the half by outscoring the Yellow Jackets 16-13 to close out the opening stanza to take a 42-22 lead into the intermission.
Ten Mercer players scored in the first 20 minutes, led by senior guard Jestin Lewis' eight points. Senior Phillip Leonard and sophomore Stephon Jelks each chipped in six points of their own to bolster the offense.
The Orange and Black continued their dominant on the offensive end in the second half, scoring 54 points over the second stanza. The Bears' aggressive style played a large part, as Mercer got to the free throw line 32 times over the game's final 20 minutes to complete the route over Allen.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Leonard played a major role in all facets of Friday evening's game, as the senior flirted with his first career triple-double. The point guard tied for the team lead in scoring with 17 points on just eight attempts from the field and finished 7-for-9 from the charity stripe. The reigning conference assist leader picked up right where he left off, dishing out a game-high seven assists. The senior rounded out his performance by crashing the glass, as Leonard pulled down seven boards.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Mercer offense was a model of efficiency against Allen, as the team shot 54.1 percent from the field. The Bears were exceptional from inside the arc, going 32-for-48 when shooting twos for a clip of 66.7 percent. After finishing the first half 17-for-35, Mercer improved to a blistering 16-for-26 in the second. Leading the way in shooting percentage for the Bears was freshman guard Ethan Stair, who finished 5-for-6 from the floor for 10 points.
HEAD COACH BOB HOFFMAN'S TAKE
"We played faster like we want to. We got 60 points in the paint. Phillip Leonard is a beast and can get to the rim, so if we can put him in the right positions and get rebounds and stops then we can be hard to guard. When he's going downhill with the rule changes he's tough. He also made some good passes in transition."
NOTABLES
- Mercer stays perfect in home openers under Hoffman, improving to 8-0.
- The Bears improve to 7-1 in season openers during the Hoffman era.
- Hoffman claimed win number 146 during his Mercer tenure and is now just one win shy of tying Robert Wilder for second place on the Mercer all-time wins list.
- The Bears improve to 60-9 when playing in Hawkins Arena since the start of the 2011-12 season and have only lost one non-conference game at home since the beginning of the 2012 season.
- The Orange and Black's 96 points are the most they have scored in a game since hanging 98 on St. Andrews on Dec. 27, 2013. It's also the most points Mercer has scored in a season opener since posting 96 points against USC on Nov. 10, 2007.
- The Bears outrebounded Allen 51-32.
- Mercer is now 1-0 against Allen University.
- Five players made their Mercer debuts on Friday evening, as Stair and fellow freshmen Cory Kilby and Jaylen Stowe received their first taste of the college game. Transfers Desmond Ringer and Andrew Fishler also put on the Mercer uniforms for the first time.
- Jestin Lewis tied for the team-high in points with 17.
- Junior forward Lawrence Brown had a career night, scoring a personal best 10 points and hauling down four rebounds.
- Ringer was a force in the paint on the defensive end, blocking three shots.
UP NEXT
Mercer is back in action on Monday, Nov. 16, as the Bears host George Mason in a non-conference matchup in Hawkins Arena. The game is slated to start at 7:00 p.m. ET.
STAY SOCIAL
For all the latest information and up-to-the-minute updates on Mercer men's basketball, please follow the team on Twitter at @MercerMBB.
