Mercer University
18-11, 8-8SoCon
East Tennessee State
19-10, 12-4SoCo
ETSU Outlasts Mercer in Home Finale, 77-74
2/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker against East Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon in the final regular season home game in Hawkins Arena for the year by a final of 77-74.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears had three shots from beyond the arc in their final possession to tie the game but were unable to convert, as ETSU held off Mercer in a 77-74. The Bears led by six with just under five minutes left in the contest and then the Buccaneers scored eight of the next 10 points to knot the game up at 70-70 with 2:41 remaining. With Mercer clinging to a one-point lead, ETSU's Desonta Bradford hit a three to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.
The two sides battled to a standstill over the opening 20 minutes of play, as the teams entered the halftime break tied at 37-37. The Orange and Black led by as many as 11 in the first frame with less than five minutes to go before the break. The Buccaneers responded by outscoring Mercer 15-4 to close out the half.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jordan Strawberry made a huge impact off the bench for the Bears on Saturday. The sophomore guard scored a game-high 22 points, just two shy of matching his career-best. Strawberry shot 7-for-13 from the field, including 3-of-6 from downtown. The Santa Ana, Calif., native also led Mercer in assists with five, while adding five rebounds.
MERCER STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Bears bench accounted for half of Mercer's points, scoring 37 on the evening. Impressively, Strawberry and junior forward Lawrence Brown were responsible for 36 of the 37 points. Mercer's bench has now scored 20+ points in 18 games this season.
NOTABLES
- The Orange and Black are now to 8-15 in the all-time series with ETSU.
- The Bears are 11-3 in games played in Hawkins Arena during the 2015-16 season.
- Mercer outrebounded ETSU 38-28, marking the 22nd time the Bears have grabbed more boards than the opposition.
- 20 of the 38 rebounds were of the offensive variety, which are the second most Mercer has recorded on the season.
- Strawberry's 22 points mark the second time this season and third time in his career that he has scored 20 or more points in a game.
- Lawrence Brown scored a career-high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Saturday was the second time in his career that he reached double figures in scoring.
- Phillip Leonard posted 14 points, marking the 17th time this season he has scored 10+ points in a game.
- Stephon Jelks led the Bears in boards with 10. He has now recorded double-digit rebounds in 12 games during the 2015-16 campaign.
RECORD UPDATE
Mercer drops to 18-11 on the season and 8-8 in SoCon play, while ETSU is now 19-10 on the year and 12-4 in conference action.
UP NEXT
The Bears will embark on their final road trip of the regular season next week, as Mercer travels to VMI to face the Keydets on Thursday, Feb. 25 in Lexington, Va. Tip is scheduled for 7 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.
