Bears Begin Three-Game Road Swing at VMI Thursday

MACON, Ga. – Mercer's men's basketball team looks to continue its winning ways in the Southern Conference with a pair of road contests this week. The Bears travel to Lexington, Va., to square off with VMI Thursday, Jan. 18 (7 p.m. tipoff time) before heading to Greensboro, N.C., to do battle with the University of North Carolina Greensboro Saturday, Jan. 20 (5 p.m. tipoff time).

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Date: Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 | 7 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (9-9, 2-3 SoCon) vs. VMI (5-11, 0-5 SoCon)
Location: Lexington, Va. | Cameron Hall
Live Stats: VMIKeydets.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 7-2 in the series
• In Macon: Mercer leads 3-1
• In Lexington: Mercer leads 3-1
• Neutral Site: Mercer leads 1-0
• Current Streak: W2
• Last Meeting: W, 81-51 in Lexington (2/9/17)

BEAR NECESSITIES
About The Keydets
VMI heads into Thursday's contest with a 5-11 overall record and 0-5 mark in the Southern Conference. The Keydets are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, the most recent being a hard-fought 65-58 setback last Saturday at Western Carolina … Freshman guard Bubba Parham tops VMI in scoring with a 13.8 per game average. Junior Austin Vereen is scoring at a 9.8 clip, while sophomore Tyler Creammer is averaging 8.6 points and leads the club in rebounding with a 5.9 per game average … Dan Earl is in his 3^rd season as VMI's head coach. His overall coaching mark stands at 20-56, with all games coming at VMI.

Series History
In a series that dates back to the 2006-07 season, Mercer leads 7-2 in games played against VMI. The Bears have won the past two meetings: 81-51 at Lexington (2/9/17) and 68-50 at Macon (1/5/17). Mercer is 3-1 vs. the Keydets at Lexington; 3-1 vs. VMI at Macon; and 1-0 vs. VMI at a neutral site.

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 (29.5)
2^nd in rebounding margin (+5.3)
2nd in field goal% (48.0%)
2nd in 3-pt. field goal% (40.3%) – 24^th in NCAA
2nd in free throw% (74.7%)
2nd in assist/turnover ratio (1.2)
3^rd in field goal% defense (43.1%)
3^rd in scoring defense (67.6)

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

Ria'n Holland – 2^nd in scoring (19.2)
Ria'n Holland – 2^nd in steals (1.7)
Ria'n Holland – 3^rd in field goal% (49.0%)
Ria'n Holland – 3rd in 3-pt. field goal% (46.8%) – 19^th in NCAA
Stephon Jelks – 2nd in defensive rebounds (5.7)
Stephon Jelks – 4^th in rebounding (7.4)
Jordan Strawberry – 1st in assist/turnover ratio (2.3)
Jordan Strawberry – 4^th in assists (4.0)

Active SoCon Leaders
Mercer has several players that also rank high on the current SoCon active leader charts, including:

Points per game – Ria'n Holland (17.85) – 1^st
Free throw% (minimum 110 made) – Demetre Rivers (84.7%) – 3^rd
Rebounds – Stephon Jelks (732) – 1^st
Assists – Jordan Strawberry (400) – 2^nd
Assists per game – Jordan Strawberry (3.42) – 3^rd

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 Thursday's SoCon contest against VMI with 499 victories at the collegiate men's level, just one 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 188 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.

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 15 games that he has played, he leads the team in scoring (19.2), which ranks 2^nd in the SoCon and is 3^rd in the league in field goal percentage at 49.0%. Holland's 46.8% from three-point range ranks 3^rd in the SoCon and 19^th nationally … Holland broke out of his shooting slump in fine fashion in the win over Samford by leading all scorers with 23 points on eight of 14 shooting, including five of nine from three point range. Prior to the Samford game, the senior guard had missed his last 13 three point attempts … Holland has scored in double figures in 42 of the 47 career games he has played at Mercer, including all 15 games this season.

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.

Jelks Ranks High Nationally in Offensive Efficiency
In games played through Jan. 13, Stephon Jelks is rated #9 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 135.0. 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.

Bear Tracks

Mercer looks to extend its two-game winning streak. The Bears are coming off a hard-fought 75-71 overtime victory over Chattanooga Monday night at Hawkins Arena. All five Mercer starters scored in double figures in that win.
Stephon Jelks has put together back-to-back double-double performances. The senior had 10 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in the win over UTC. He went for 13 points and 11 rebounds in the victory over Samford. Jelks has three double-double performances this season.
Desmond Ringer is playing his best basketball of the season of late. The senior post man had a double-double of his own vs. UTC (14/10) and equaled his career-high in rebounds with 12 boards vs. Samford. In SoCon games only, Ringer is averaging 10.2 boards per outing, which tops the conference charts. Ringer is also the SoCon's top free throw shooter in conference play, hitting 93.8% of his attempts (15-16). 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.
Demetre Rivers is Mercer's 2^nd leading scorer (10.5) and is hitting a team-best 86.3% from the free throw stripe. 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.
Jordan Strawberry continues to rank among the SoCon leaders in assist/turnover ratio (2.3), which ranks 1st in the league. Strawberry dished out seven assists in the win over Samford. The senior guard has 72 assists on the season (4.0 per game/4th in the league) while committing just 31 turnovers.
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 (4.9 ppg), Cory Kilby (3.8 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 (86.3%); Ringer (84.8%); Holland (83.6%); and Jelks (81.8%).

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.

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.

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.

Speaking of Seniors
Mercer is one of only two teams in the nation to start five seniors this season, with Texas Tech being the other. The Bears are currently 9-9 on the year and were rated in the CollegeInsider.com Top 25 Mid-Major poll for the majority of the early portion of the season, while the Red Raiders of the Big 12 Conference sport a 15-2 record and are currently ranked No. 8 in this week's Associated Press poll.

What's Next
Mercer continues its SoCon road swing by traveling to Greensboro to face the University of North Carolina Greensboro Saturday, Jan. 20 with tipoff time set for 5 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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Bears Begin Three-Game Road Swing at VMI Thursday

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Players Mentioned

Marcus Cohen

Ria'n Holland

Stephon Jelks

Cory Kilby

Rashad Lewis

Desmond Ringer

Demetre Rivers

Ethan Stair

Jaylen Stowe

Jordan Strawberry

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Mercer University Athletics

Bears Begin Three-Game Road Swing at VMI Thursday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Cohen

Ria'n Holland

Stephon Jelks

Cory Kilby

Rashad Lewis

Desmond Ringer

Demetre Rivers

Ethan Stair

Jaylen Stowe

Jordan Strawberry

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