Mercer University
12-4 (2-1)
The Citadel
7-9 (0-3)
Jelks' Monster Game Propels Mercer to 91-80 Win Over The Citadel
1/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Reigning Southern Conference Player of the Month and Player of the Week, Mercer sophomore Stephon Jelks, turned in his best performance of his career on Saturday afternoon to help the Bears defeat The Citadel 91-80. Jelks finished with a career-high 24 points and a personal best 17 rebounds in the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears equaled their best first half of the season from an offensive standpoint, scoring 42 points to build a 12-point lead at 42-30. The Citadel held a 6-2 lead in the opening minutes and then Mercer reeled off a 13-0 run to take control of the game. The Orange and Black did not relinquish the advantage for the rest of the opening 20 minutes, as the lead fluctuated between five and 14 points before the halftime buzzer.
Three Mercer players found themselves in double figures at the intermission. Senior guard Phillip Leonard led the way with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting while the sophomore duo of Stephon Jelks and Demetre Rivers each added 10 points. The Bears outrebounded the Bulldogs 29-11 in the first half with Jelks grabbing eight boards.
Mercer led from wire-to-wire in the second stanza. The closest The Citadel managed to get in the final 20 minutes was within seven points at the 8:29 mark. The Bears then responded and pushed the lead back to double digits and comfortably recorded the 11-point victory.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Already in the midst of a fantastic season, Jelks put together a signature performance on Saturday afternoon in Charleston, S.C. The sophomore recorded his SoCon leading seventh double-double of the season with a career-high 24 points and career-high 17 rebounds. The Marietta, Ga., native finished 9-of-17 from the field and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. Jelks also added three assists and a steal in the victory.
MERCER STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Bears dominated the glass against the Bulldogs, outrebounding the opposition by a margin of 51-28. Jelks led the team with 17 rebounds, the most of any player in the SoCon for a single game this season. Leonard added eight rebounds and Ringer chipped in seven boards. The 51 rebounds are tied for the second most Mercer has grabbed in a game during the 2015-16 campaign and marks the fourth time the Bears have pulled down 50+ boards in a game.
NOTABLES
- The Bears are now 11-4 against The Citadel in the all-time series and 3-0 in Southern Conference play against the Bulldogs.
- Mercer outrebounded the Bulldogs 51-28 and have now grabbed more boards than their opponents in 14 of 16 games.
- Mercer has now grabbed 50+ rebounds in four games this year.
- The 91 points are the second most the Orange and Black has scored this season.
- The Bears shot over 50 percent from the field for the fifth time this campaign.
- The Orange and Black's 42 points in the first half match its season high for points in the opening frame.
- Five players finished in double figures in points, marking the second time the team has achieved the feat this season.
- Jelks recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 24 points and 17 rebounds.
- Jelks' seven double-doubles leads the Southern Conference.
- The 17 boards are the fourth most from a Mercer player in the last 10 seasons and the most since Daniel Emerson recorded 18 against North Florida on Feb. 18, 2010.
- Rivers scored a career-high 17 points, finishing with 10+ points for the ninth time this year.
- Leonard nearly finished with the first triple-double of his career, posting 14 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
- Leonard's nine assists are a season high and one shy of matching his career best.
- Jordan Strawberry scored 19 points on just eight shots and has combined to score 43 points in his last two games.
- Jestin Lewis scored 10 points, marking his 10th game in double figures during the 2015-16 season.
RECORD UPDATE
Mercer improves to 12-4 on the season and is now 2-1 in SoCon play, while The Citadel falls to 7-9 on the year and 0-3 in conference action.
UP NEXT: The Bears return home for a pair of Southern Conference home games next week. The Orange and Black hosts Furman on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. and then turns around to welcome Wofford on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m.
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.
