Bears Return to Hawkins Arena to Host Samford Saturday Afternoon

Saturday, January 13

Macon, Ga.

4 P.M.

Mercer University

Samford

Bears Return to Hawkins Arena to Host Samford Saturday Afternoon

1/12/2018 12:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball

By: Will Tharp

MACON, Ga. – Mercer's men's basketball team looks to rebound by playing host to Samford Saturday, Jan. 13 at Hawkins Arena. Tipoff for this Southern Conference matchup is 4 p.m. (ET).

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Date: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 | 4 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (7-9, 0-3 SoCon) vs. Samford (7-10, 3-1 SoCon)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/LiveStats
TV: ESPN3
Radio: 97.3 FM, 103.3 FM, iHeart Radio and Sports Mic – Rick Cameron
Twitter Updates: @MercerMBB

SERIES HISTORY
• Overall: Mercer leads 64-46 in the series
• Current Streak: W8
• Last Meeting: W, 88-79 in Macon (2/27/17)

BEAR NECESSITIES
About The Bulldogs
Samford comes into the game with a 7-10 overall record, but the Bears are 3-1 in the Southern Conference and riding a two-game conference winning streak … Samford has defeated Western Carolina (85-71) and The Citadel (107-91) in its last two outings … The Bears are led in scoring by senior guard Demetrius Denzel-Dyson, who is averaging 15.2 points per outing while shooting 47.8% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range. Junior guard Justin Coleman is scoring 12.7 points per game and leads the team in assists with 5.9 per contest which leads the Southern Conference. Senior forward Alex Thompson is also scoring in double figures at 11.5 points per game. Senior forward Eric Adams tops the club in rebounding at 5.9 per contest … Like Mercer, Samford also lost a close non-conference game at Memphis earlier this season, dropping a 65-64 decision to the Tigers. Mercer fell to Memphis 83-81 in triple overtime … Samford is second in the SoCon in field goal shooting, hitting 47.9% of its shots … Samford is coached by Scott Padgett, who is in his fourth season with the Bulldogs. The former University of Kentucky standout (member of the 1998 NCAA champions) and first-round NBA draft pick (Utah Jazz) has compiled a head coaching record of 54-64, all at Samford. Last year's club finished 20-16 and appeared in the CollegeInsider.com postseason tournament.

Series History
In a series that dates back to the 1902-03 season, Mercer leads 64-46 in games played against Samford. The Bears currently own an eight-game winning streak vs. Samford and are a perfect 6-0 vs. the Bulldogs in Southern Conference competition. Samford's last victory over Mercer came on Feb. 23, 2002; a 69-49 triumph in Birmingham. The 110 meetings between Mercer and Samford rank second all-time for Mercer and any other opponent. The Bears have played Stetson 125 times over the years. In last year's 68-65 victory over Samford in Macon, Mercer equaled a school-record by sinking 14 three-point field goals.

Bears Held in High Regard
Mercer was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference men's championship by the league's head coaches. The Bears were narrow favorites to claim the SoCon crown, tallying four first-place votes and 71 total points with Samford a close runner-up, earning three first-place votes and 70 total points.

Where the Bears Rank in Southern Conference Statistics
Here's a look at where the Bears' rank near the top of the latest edition of the SoCon men's basketball statistics:
Team Statistics

1^st in rebounding defense (30.3)
2^nd in rebounding margin (+3.7)
2nd in 3-pt. field goal% (41.3%) – 14th in NCAA
2nd in free throw% (74.2%)
3rd in assist/turnover ratio (1.2)
4th in scoring margin (+8.6)
4th in scoring defense (68.5)

Individual Statistics (player must appear in at least 75% of team's games)

Ria'n Holland – 2^nd in scoring (19.4)
Ria'n Holland – 4th in 3-pt. field goal% (48.8%) – 9th in NCAA
Ria'n Holland – 4^th in 3-pt. field goals made per game (3.0)
Stephon Jelks – 1^st in 3-pt. field goal% (55.6%)
Stephon Jelks – 2nd in defensive rebounds (5.4)
Stephon Jelks – 3rd in field goal% (60.8%)
Stephon Jelks – 4^th in rebounding (6.9)
Jordan Strawberry – 2nd in assist/turnover ratio (2.3)
Demetre Rivers – 3rd in free throw% (87.2%)

Jelks Ranks High Nationally in Offensive Efficiency
In games played through Jan. 11, Stephon Jelks is rated #8 in the nation in Offensive Efficiency according to Ken Pomeroy, a nationally acclaimed basketball statistician who produces the website Kenpom.com. Jelks has an Offensive Efficiency rating of 136.3. The Offensive Efficiency rating is based upon a formula that examines total offensive possessions and individual points produced. The four components that make up the total offensive possessions include scoring possessions, missed field goal possessions, missed free throw possessions and turnovers.

Holland Ranks as one of the SoCon's Best Performers
Despite missing three games earlier this season due to injury, Holland has exhibited the type of play indicative of an all-conference performer. Holland was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for his performance in the team's opening two games. He went for 31 points in the 88-79 loss at Central Florida and then came back with a 16-point effort in the victory over Toccoa Falls. That 31-point effort vs. UCF was at the time, the second-highest output in his Mercer career. The 6-0 product of Fayetteville, N.C., had scored a career-best 32 points last season vs. The Citadel, before eclipsing that mark with a 33-point career-high effort Dec. 17 at La Salle, a game in which he drained 10 of 19 field goal attempts, including six of nine from three point range … Holland was named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament team as he averaged 18.3 points during the three-game stretch, including a 29-point effort in the victory over Drexel … The 6-0 senior went for 24 points on seven of 10 shooting from the field, including six of eight behind the three point arc in the victory over Florida A&M … Holland played superbly in an 80-79 nail biting loss at Alabama Dec. 19, tallying 21 points. His 20 points led all scorers in the Dec. 28 triumph over Kennesaw State … In the 13 games that he has played, he leads the team in scoring (19.4), which ranks 2^nd in the SoCon and is the league's fourth three-point field goal shooter at 48.8%, which ranks 9th in the NCAA. Holland looks to shake off a shooting slump when he takes to the floor vs. Samford, as the senior guard has missed his last 13 three point attempts … Holland has scored in double figures in 40 of the 45 career games he has played at Mercer, including all 13 games this season.

This and That
Mercer continues to rank among the nation's leaders in three point marksmanship despite back-to-back subpar performances against Furman and Western Carolina, a two-game stretch in which the Bears have made just 8 of 38 from behind the arc (21%). The Bears are 2^nd in the SoCon in three-point shooting % (41.3%), which ranks 14th in the NCAA … Mercer shot a season-best 60.3% from the field in the Bears' win over Kennesaw State. Mercer broke open a fairly close contest by hitting a blazing 72.4% of its field goal attempts in the second half of that contest … On the flip side, the Bears are coming off a season-low 35.3% shooting performance vs. WCU … The Bears are 4th in the SoCon in field goal shooting, knocking down 47.5% of their attempts … Mercer is 2^nd in the conference in free throw shooting, making 74.2% of its charity tosses … Stephon Jelks turned in a season-high 22 point effort vs. La Salle. In that contest, the 6-7 senior was seven of eight from the floor, including three of four behind the arc, and a perfect five for five from the charity stripe. Jelks flirted with a triple-double in the win over Florida A&M, scoring 12 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and handing out seven assists in that contest. Jelks leads the club in rebounding (6.9), which ranks 4^th in the SoCon and is the Bears' 2nd leading scorer (10.3). Jelks was one of the few bright spots in the hard-fought loss at Western Carolina. He sank six of seven shots from the field, including four of five from three point land to lead the Bears in scoring with 16 points. He also has been extremely accurate scoring the basketball, hitting 60.8% of his field goal attempts (best on the team and 3rd best in the SoCon) and hitting 81.5% of his charity tosses. Jelks is knocking down 55.6% of his three point tries, which leads the Southern Conference … Demetre Rivers tallied a season-high 24 points vs. Alabama. In that contest, the senior connected on six of eight field goal attempts, including three of four behind the arc, and nailed nine of 10 free throw attempts. Rivers helped ignite a furious rally for the Bears down the stretch, scoring five points in the closing seconds to almost lead Mercer to the upset win over the Crimson Tide. Rivers tallied 11 points in the victory vs. Kennesaw State and his spectacular shot block that landed up in the stands earned the #2 rating on the Dec. 28 edition of ESPN's SportsCenter Top 10 Plays of the Day. Rivers is the team's leading free throw shooter (87.2%), which ranks 4th in the SoCon and the team's third leading point producer (10.1) … Senior Desmond Ringer delivered a double-double showing vs. ETSU, a game in which he tallied 10 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. Against Furman, Ringer equaled his career-high with 22 points on seven of eight shooting from the field and a perfect eight for eight at the free throw line. Ringer led the Bears with 10 rebounds vs. WCU. Ringer is averaging 8.1 points per game and is shooting 84.1% from the free throw line … Jordan Strawberry continues to rank among the SoCon leaders in assist/turnover ratio (2.3), which ranks 2nd in the league. The senior guard has dished out 59 assists (3.7 per game/6th in the league) while committing just 26 turnovers. Strawberry played an extremely efficient floor game in the win over Kennesaw State, handing out seven assists with no turnovers. He is tied with Ringer as Mercer's 4^th leading scorer with an 8.1 per game average. Strawberry only played four minutes against Furman due to an illness … Freshman Marcus Cohen came off the bench for the ailing Strawberry against Furman and turned in a career-best 14-point performance … The Bears are receiving other strong contributions off the bench. Ethan Stair is averaging 6.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per outing. Cohen (5.3 ppg), Cory Kilby (3.9 ppg), and Jaylen Stowe (3.3 ppg) are all averaging 13 or more minutes of playing time per contest. Kilby came off the bench to contribute 11 points vs. Kennesaw State … Mercer has four players hitting 80% or better from the free throw line, including Rivers (87.2%); Ringer (84.1%); Holland (82.8%); and Jelks (81.5%).

Senior Leadership
Six seniors return from last year's team. Those senior leaders include: Desmond Ringer, Jordan Strawberry, Ria'n Holland, Demetre Rivers, Rashad Lewis, and Stephon Jelks. Holland is the team's leading returning scorer at 17.2 points per game; Jelks paced the club with 6.7 rebounds per outing; while Strawberry dished out a team-best 4.3 assists per contest.

Returning Firepower
Mercer returns all five starters from last season's club. Those five starters – Ria'n Holland, Jordan Strawberry, Demetre Rivers, Desmond Ringer, and Stephon Jelks – combined to score a total of 1,744 of the team's 2,269 points on the season. That translates to nearly 77% of the Bears' offensive output from last year. In total, nine players are back from the 2016-17 team.

Preseason Watch List
Holland was named to the 2017-18 Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by CollegeInsider.com earlier this season. The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the nation's top NCAA Division I mid-major player. Holland is one of 51 mid-major players included on the preseason watch list. The award is named after Lou Henson, who coached college basketball for 41 years and was sixth all-time in career Division I wins (779) when he left the game in 2005. Holland is one of four players from SoCon teams included on the watch list. Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, ASUN, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro-Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt and West Coast. The winner of the 2017-18 Lou Henson Award will be announced on March 31, 2018 at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Event in San Antonio, Texas, the site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

Holland was also named to the preseason All-Southern Conference team as selected by the league's coaches prior to the start of this year.

Coach Hoffman Closing In On 500 Victories
Mercer head coach Bob Hoffman has certainly achieved a great deal of success during his coaching career and he is closing in on a milestone that will only add to his list of superlative accomplishments. Coach Hoffman heads into Saturday's SoCon contest against Samford with 497 victories at the collegiate men's level, just three shy of 500. Coach Hoffman accumulated 243 wins as the head coach at Oklahoma Baptist from 1990-99; 68 victories while at Texas Pan-American (1999-2004); and he has won 186 games as Mercer's head coach (2008-present). Coach Hoffman has led Mercer to unprecedented success during his tenure with the Bears. The two-time Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year has directed Mercer to 18 post-season victories and 10 power conference wins. Twice the Bears have won a school-record 27 games (2011-12 and 2013-14) under his leadership.

What's Next
Mercer has a quick turnaround and will play host to SoCon rival UT-Chattanooga Monday, Jan. 15. Tipoff at Hawkins Arena is 7 p.m. (ET).

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.

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