Monday, February 27
Macon, Ga.
7:00 PM ET
Mercer University
15-16, 9-9SoCon
88
vs
79
Samford
17-14, 8-10SoCon
1
2
F
Samford
33
46
79
Mercer
35
53
88
Team Stats
SAM
MER
FG%
.491
.443
3FG%
.565
.333
FT%
.800
.862
RB
24
41
TO
9
5
STL
3
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
32
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
14
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballPhoto by: Judy Stapleton
Strawberry's 32 points sends Mercer past Samford 88-79
2/27/2017 9:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MACON, Ga. – Jordan Strawberry scored a career-high 32 points, made all 14 of his foul shots, distributed seven assists with no turnovers and collected seven rebounds and Mercer beat Samford 88-79 on Monday.
Strawberry's 3-pointer with 2:47 to play before halftime tied the score at 29, and he followed with a 3-point play 37 seconds later and the Bears took a 35-33 lead at the break.
Mercer (15-16, 9-9 Southern Conference) never trailed in the second half. The Bears were 25 for 29 from the foul line (86 percent). Stephon Jelks had 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting and made all six of his free throws and grabbed seven boards. Demetre Rivers scored 16 points.
Demetrius Denzel-Dyson led Samford (17-14, 8-10) with 24 points shooting 8 for 12 including 5 for 6 from 3-point range. Triston Chambers scored 14, Alex Thompson had 12 and Wyatt Walker 11.
Mercer had a 41-24 rebounding edge.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jordan Strawberry may have felt cool under pressure but he was on fire Monday evening. The junior guard tallied a career-high 32 points – including a perfect 14-for-14 mark from the free throw line – in the win. He also tallied seven assists and seven rebounds in the contest while also being credited with a steal.
STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer outrebounded Samford, 41-24, Monday night, a +17 differential. That ties for the largest positive differential in rebounds Mercer has had against a Division I opponent this season.
COACH HOFFMAN'S COMMENTS
A great shooting team, a well-coached team. They kept throwing them in at the end, which we knew they could. Fortunately we kept hitting all those free throws down the stretch, we were 21 of 21 in the second half (from the free throw line). I'm just happy for our seniors. They are fantastic guys. James Bento, JJ N'Ganga and Andrew Fishler. They are going to get their degrees. They are what is right about college basketball and I'm glad they are part of our program."
On Jordan Strawberry's performance:
"I think he has still more of them in him. It was a great, great night but I don't want to classify it as historical or anything crazy because he has had some big nights and he is capable of it. Those seven rebounds were huge, as were the seven assists. But he made some shots to make a difference in tonight's game. He was willing to step into the moment – as he always is – and delivered."
RECORDS UPDATE
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.
Strawberry's 3-pointer with 2:47 to play before halftime tied the score at 29, and he followed with a 3-point play 37 seconds later and the Bears took a 35-33 lead at the break.
Mercer (15-16, 9-9 Southern Conference) never trailed in the second half. The Bears were 25 for 29 from the foul line (86 percent). Stephon Jelks had 17 points on 5-for-8 shooting and made all six of his free throws and grabbed seven boards. Demetre Rivers scored 16 points.
Demetrius Denzel-Dyson led Samford (17-14, 8-10) with 24 points shooting 8 for 12 including 5 for 6 from 3-point range. Triston Chambers scored 14, Alex Thompson had 12 and Wyatt Walker 11.
Mercer had a 41-24 rebounding edge.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Jordan Strawberry may have felt cool under pressure but he was on fire Monday evening. The junior guard tallied a career-high 32 points – including a perfect 14-for-14 mark from the free throw line – in the win. He also tallied seven assists and seven rebounds in the contest while also being credited with a steal.
STAT OF THE GAME
Mercer outrebounded Samford, 41-24, Monday night, a +17 differential. That ties for the largest positive differential in rebounds Mercer has had against a Division I opponent this season.
COACH HOFFMAN'S COMMENTS
A great shooting team, a well-coached team. They kept throwing them in at the end, which we knew they could. Fortunately we kept hitting all those free throws down the stretch, we were 21 of 21 in the second half (from the free throw line). I'm just happy for our seniors. They are fantastic guys. James Bento, JJ N'Ganga and Andrew Fishler. They are going to get their degrees. They are what is right about college basketball and I'm glad they are part of our program."
On Jordan Strawberry's performance:
"I think he has still more of them in him. It was a great, great night but I don't want to classify it as historical or anything crazy because he has had some big nights and he is capable of it. Those seven rebounds were huge, as were the seven assists. But he made some shots to make a difference in tonight's game. He was willing to step into the moment – as he always is – and delivered."
RECORDS UPDATE
- Mercer: 15-16 (9-9 SoCon)
- Samford: 17-14 (8-10 SoCon)
- Mercer: Gaines the No. 6 seed and will face No. 3 ETSU on Saturday, March 4 at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) in Asheville, North Carolina
- Samford: Receives the No. 7 seed and will face No. 10 VMI on Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN3) in Asheville, North Carolina
- Mercer is now 65-45 all-time against Samford. The Orange and Black have now won seven straight in the series and have a 33-14 advantage in Macon.
- Jordan Strawberry posted career-highs in points (32), free throws made (14) and free throws attempted (14) in a dominating performance.
- Strawberry posted a career-best assist-to-turnover ratio Monday night with seven assists and zero turnovers.
- The 17 points Stephon Jelks scored Monday night marked the most the junior forward has scored against a Southern Conference opponent this season.
- Ria'n Holland recorded a career-best two blocks in the game.
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.
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