Mercer Returns to the Hardwood Sunday at Auburn

MACON, Ga. – After more than a week off for final exams Mercer's men return to the hardwood on Sunday when the Bears play at Auburn on the SEC Network.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT with Roy Philpott and Deb Antonelli calling the action. Rick Cameron will have the call on the Mercer Sports Network.

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Date: Sunday, Dec. 18 | 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT
Teams: Mercer (5-5) at Auburn (7-2)
Location: Auburn, Ala. | Auburn Arena (9,121)
TV: SEC Network | Watch ESPN
TV Talent: Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Deb Antonelli (analyst)
Radio: Mercer Sports Network (Flagship: 97.3 FM The Bull Icons) | iHeartRadio
Radio Talent: Rick Cameron (play-by-play)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Twitter Updates: @MercerMBB
Game Notes: Mercer | SoCon | Auburn
Tickets: Purchase Here

Opening Tipoff
After a week's break for final exams Mercer returns to action Sunday afternoon at Auburn. This marks the second consecutive game in which Mercer faces the Tigers after playing at Clemson on Dec. 10.

Series History
Sunday's game will mark a deciding contest in the series history as both teams have won 16 games apiece in the 32-game series history. Mercer won 11 straight in the series from 1922 to 1947 but the Tigers have won seven of the last nine.

Scouting Auburn
The hot-shooting Tigers are coming off a dominating win over Coastal Carolina Thursday where Auburn hit a school record 21 3-pointers in a 117-72 win.
Auburn has won three of the last four with the lone loss being a one-point decision against Boston College.

Last Time out
Ria'n Holland led Mercer with 12 points but the Bears were unable to contain hot-handed Clemson in a 90-47 loss in front of 7,514 at Littlejohn Coliseum Saturday afternoon.

All 12 points from Holland came off 3-pointers, as did almost half (8) of Mercer's total field goals (17).

A Second Team for the Fifth Year
When Mercer plays at Auburn on Sunday it will mark the fifth consecutive season that the Bears will face two teams from the Southeastern Conference in a single season. Mercer already played Florida earlier this season in a neutral site game in Jacksonville.

As the Bears look for a win Sunday at Auburn, past history could bode well for Mercer. The Orange and Black have won at least one game against an SEC opponent in three of the last four seasons with 2014-15 being the only exception.

Season SEC Opponents

2016-17	vs. Florida (L, 76-54), at Auburn
2015-16	at Auburn (L, 78-71), at Arkansas (W [OT}, 69-66)
2014-15	at Tennessee (L 64-54), at Georgia (L [3OT], 86-77), at Texas A&M (L, 65-50)
2013-14	at Ole Miss (W, 79-76), vs. Tennessee (L, 83-63)
2012-13	at Georgia (L, 58-49), at Alabama (W, 66-59)

Top Strawberry Dish
With five assists in 17 minutes played on Dec. 7, 2016 against Oglethorpe, Jordan Strawberry moved into Mercer's top 10 charts with career assists. Entering the top 10 at 234 assists and with only 32 assists separating 10th from sixth, Strawberry is expected to move his way up the charts quickly this season.

Assists - Career

1.	Langston Hall	633	2010-14
2.	Elston Harris	541	1982-86
3.	James Florence	436	2006-10
4.	Korey McCray	344	1997-01
5.	Phillip Leonard	337	2013-16
6.	Everett Callaway	266	1985-87
7.	Pete Geter	262	1983-87
8.	Keith Czapla	257	1983-85
9.	Clarence Baker	239	2001-03
*10.*	*Jordan Strawberry*	*237*	*2014-Pres.*

Playing in the SoCon Before Joining the SoCon
Did something look odd in the all-time history between Mercer in Atlanta? Perhaps because the lone neutral site game played between the two teams came in Atlanta in the Southern Conference Tournament on Feb. 27, 1923 despite the fact that Mercer didn't join the league until 2014. Host of the first conference basketball tournament in collegiate athletics, the Southern Conference invited non-member teams to play in some of its early tournaments. The Bears are 11-5 all-time in the SoCon Tournament with a 9-3 mark before joining the league. That includes a 4-1 mark against teams currently in the Southeastern Conference.

Taking Care
Early this season Mercer is one of the better teams in the nation in taking care of the ball. Entering this week's games, the Bears are ranked 59th nationally and first in the Southern Conference in turnovers per game. Mercer is only giving away the ball at a rate of 11.2 per game, one of the best marks in the nation.

Does It Get Any Easier?
Bob Hoffman claimed before the season started that this might be Mercer's toughest schedule yet in his nine years in Macon. He might be right. Mercer's strength of schedule currently ranks 33rd in the nation. Bears opponents have accumulated a record of 43-25 so far this season, a .632 winning clip.

How to Follow the Bears:
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerMBB (Twitter), /MercerBasketball (Facebook) and @Mercer_MBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.

Mercer Returns to the Hardwood Sunday at Auburn

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Players Mentioned

Ria'n Holland

Phillip Leonard

Jordan Strawberry

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Mercer University Athletics

Mercer Returns to the Hardwood Sunday at Auburn

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ria'n Holland

Phillip Leonard

Jordan Strawberry

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