Bears Host Furman in Back End of Thursday Doubleheader

MACON, Ga. – Mercer's men's basketball team looks to get back on the winning track as the Bears host the Furman Paladins Thursday, Feb. 1. Tipoff time for this Southern Conference matchup is 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Hawkins Arena.

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Date: Thursday, Feb. 4, 2018 | 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (10-12, 3-6 SoCon) vs. Furman (15-7, 6-3 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: Furman leads 13-10
• In Macon: Mercer leads 7-3
• In Greenville: Furman leads 9-3
• Neutral Site: Mercer trails 0-1
• Current Streak: L4
• Last Meeting: L, 71-74 in Greenville (1/6/18)

BEAR NECESSITIES
About The Paladins
Furman enters the contest with an overall record of 15-7 and 6-3 in the SoCon … The Paladins rank 2^nd in the league in scoring offense (79.5) and scoring margin (+11.3). Furman stands 3^rd in the conference in scoring defense (68.1) …Furman defends the three-point shot better than any team in the league, holding its opponents to just 31.1% shooting from behind the arc … The Paladins rank 2^nd in the SoCon in both assists (16.2) and steals (8.4) per game. Furman leads the conference in turnover margin (+3.55) and assist/turnover ratio (1.3) … Reigning SoCon Player of the Year Devin Sibley ranks 3^rd in the conference in scoring (15.3) … Matt Rafferty leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (3.0) and is 3^rd in the league in steals per game (1.6) … Bob Richey is in his first season as head coach for the Paladins and has compiled a 15-7 record thus far. Coach Richey joined the Furman staff prior to the 2011-12 season and has helped recruit and groom back-to-back SoCon Players of the Year in guards Stephen Croone (2016) and Devin Sibley (2017).

Series History
In a series that dates back to the 1924-25 season, Mercer trails 10-13 in games against Furman. The Bears are 3-9 vs. the Paladins in Greenville, 7-3 vs. Furman in Macon, and 0-1 against FU at a neutral site. Mercer is 3-5 against Furman since joining the Southern Conference and is looking to snap a four-game losing streak vs. the Paladins. Furman rallied from nine points down in the second half to defeat Mercer 74-71 Jan. 6 at Timmons Arena. Trailing 59-50 with 8:43 remaining, the Paladins scored 11 unanswered points and went on to edge the Bears. Mercer senior post man Desmond Ringer equaled his career-high with 22 points, while freshman Marcus Cohen came off the bench to contribute 14. Furman had five players score in double figures, led by Daniel Fowler's 21 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 (29.6)
2^nd in rebounding margin (+5.6)
2nd in 3-pt. field goal% (38.8%)
3rd in free throw% (74.8%)
3^rd in field goal% (46.7%)

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

Stephon Jelks – 2nd in three point field goal% (46.5%)
Stephon Jelks – 2nd in defensive rebounds (5.9)
Stephon Jelks – 2nd in rebounding (7.9)
Jordan Strawberry – 2^nd in assist/turnover ratio (2.6)
Jordan Strawberry – 5th in assists (4.0)

Coach Hoffman Wins 500^th Game at Men's Collegiate Level
Mercer head coach Bob Hoffman has certainly achieved a great deal of success during his coaching career and he reached a milestone with the Jan. 18 victory over VMI – his 500^th win at the men's collegiate level - that will only add to his list of superlative accomplishments. 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 189 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.

Jelks Joins The 1,000-Point Club
Stephon Jelks has become the 39^th player in Mercer men's basketball history to eclipse the 1,000-point career scoring mark. The senior forward from Marietta, Ga., enters Saturday's game with 1,024 career points, which ranks 37^th on the school's all-time list. Next in line for Jelks to surpass are Rodney Kirtz (1,025/1998-01), Jim Hearn (1,034/1962-64), and Reggie Elliott (1,034/1962-64).

Jelks Moves Up Career Rebounding Charts
Jelks is also climbing up the school's career rebounding charts. He comes into the Furman game with 771 career rebounds, which currently ranks 3rd on the all-time career rebounding charts. Jelks is only the 6th player in Mercer men's basketball history to score more than 1,000 points and grab more than 700 rebounds during his career.

Jelks Ranks High Nationally in Offensive Efficiency
In games played through Jan. 29, Stephon Jelks is rated #30 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 129.0. 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.

Strawberry Nears 1,000-Point Scoring Mark
Mercer senior guard Jordan Strawberry is closing in on the 1,000-point scoring mark. Strawberry enters Thursday's game against Furman with 996 career points. He needs four points to become the 40^th player in Mercer history to reach the 1,000-point scoring mark.

Strawberry Climbs Up Career Assists List
Strawberry comes into the Furman game with 417 career assists, which ranks 4^th on the Mercer career chart. Next in line for Strawberry to pass is James Florence (436/2006-10).

Bear Tracks

Mercer looks to snap a three-game losing streak when the Bears take to the floor Thursday evening against Furman.
Jelks has six double-double performances on the season, including one stretch of four in a row. The senior had put together four straight double-double performances until his streak was snapped – barely snapped – against ETSU. 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. In the Jan. 18 triumph over VMI, he tallied 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Against UNCG, Jelks contributed 11 points and 11 rebounds in the Bears' hard-fought 70-66 overtime loss. The senior tallied 14 points and contributed nine rebounds vs. ETSU … Jelks is the team's 2nd leading scorer (10.7) and he is the league's 2nd leading rebounder (7.9). Jelks is 2^nd in the SoCon in three-point shooting% (46.5%). In conference games only, Jelks' 8.7 rebounds per game leads the league … 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. Against VMI, Ringer grabbed 11 rebounds as the Bears dominated the backboards 50-31. Ringer was a perfect 9-9 from the floor with a 21-point showing vs. ETSU … In SoCon games only, Ringer is averaging 8.4 boards per outing, which is 2^nd in the conference. 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 3rd leading scorer (10.2) and is hitting a team-best 87.7% 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. Rivers scored 13 clutch points in the win over VMI and went for 11 points vs. UNCG.
Strawberry continues to rank among the SoCon leaders in assist/turnover ratio (2.6), which ranks 2nd in the league. Strawberry dished out seven assists in the win over Samford, handed out six assists in the victory at VMI, and passed for five assists vs. UNCG. The senior guard has 89 assists on the season (4.0 per game/5th in the league) while committing just 34 turnovers … Strawberry scored 22 points in his last outing vs. The Citadel. In conference games only, he is shooting a blazing 89.3% from the free throw stripe, which is 4^th best in the SoCon.
Freshman Marcus Cohen came off the bench to tally a career-high 16 points in the game vs. ETSU. In that contest, Cohen was 7-12 from the field and also handed out five assists. He came off the bench against Furman and turned in what was then a career-best 14-point performance against the Paladins.
Ross Cummings came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points vs. The Citadel. Cummings went for 11 points in the game at UNCG. Cummings hit three big three-point baskets to help rally the Bears and send the game into overtime in that ballgame.
Ethan Stair started in the place of the injured Ria'n Holland against UNCG and contributed 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The Bears are receiving multiple strong contributions off the bench. Stair is averaging 6.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per outing. Cohen (5.5 ppg), Cory Kilby (3.5 ppg), and Jaylen Stowe (3.0 ppg) are all averaging 13 or more minutes of playing time per contest.
Mercer has four players hitting 80% or better from the free throw line, including Rivers (87.7%); Holland (83.6%); Strawberry (82.3) and Ringer (81.8%).

Holland Ranks as one of the SoCon's Best Performers
Despite being sidelined with some injuries this season, 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 … 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 led Mercer with 16 points vs. VMI, with 14 of those coming in the first half. He left that game early in the second half with a hand injury and is out indefinitely. In the 16 games that he has played, he leads the team in scoring (19.0), which ranked 2^nd in the SoCon prior to his hand injury. Holland has scored in double figures in 43 of the 48 career games he has played at Mercer, including all 16 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.

What's Next
Mercer has a quick turnaround and will play host to the Wofford Terriers Saturday, Feb. 3. Tipoff time for this SoCon game is set for 4:30 p.m. (ET) at Hawkins Arena.

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 Host Furman in Back End of Thursday Doubleheader

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Players Mentioned

Marcus Cohen

Ross Cummings

Ria'n Holland

Stephon Jelks

Cory Kilby

Desmond Ringer

Demetre Rivers

Ethan Stair

Jaylen Stowe

Jordan Strawberry

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Mercer University Athletics

Bears Host Furman in Back End of Thursday Doubleheader

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Cohen

Ross Cummings

Ria'n Holland

Stephon Jelks

Cory Kilby

Desmond Ringer

Demetre Rivers

Ethan Stair

Jaylen Stowe

Jordan Strawberry

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