Friday, November 16
Macon, Ga.
7 p.m.
Mercer University
2-2, 0-0
77
vs
60
UT Martin
1-2, 0-0
1
2
F
UT Martin
35
25
60
Mercer
40
37
77
Team Stats
UTM
MER
FG%
.400
.459
3FG%
.238
.379
FT%
.636
.667
RB
38
33
TO
17
11
STL
2
5
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballPhoto by: Judy Stapleton
Bears Down UT Martin in Hoffman's 200th Win at Mercer
11/16/2018 9:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Four Bears score in double figures in 77-60 home victory
MACON, Ga. – Mercer led for over 32 minutes and defeated visiting UT Martin, 77-60, to earn head coach Bob Hoffman's 200th career victory at the program's helm on Friday night at Hawkins Arena.
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The Bears' latest deficit in the game (11-10) was with 12:34 remaining in the first half as they improved to 2-2 overall on the season. UT Martin fell to 1-2. Four Bears scored in double figures, led by a game-high 18 points from Djordje Dimitrijevic, who earned his first Division IÂ start at point guard.
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Mercer held the Skyhawks to 34 percent shooting in the second half and allowed just 25 points while running away with the 17-point victory. A layup by UT Martin with 3:42 remaining in the game cut Mercer's lead to 70-60 before the Bears closed out the contest with a three-pointer by Ross Cummings, a layup by Jaylen Stowe and a dunk by Ethan Stair.
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Mercer shot 53 percent (15-for-28) from the field and took a 40-35 lead into halftime. A steal by Dimitrijevic led to a fast-break dunk for Stowe with 2:19 left in the first half and gave Mercer a 37-30 advantage. The Skyhawks scored the next five points to cut their deficit, but Stowe came up big once again, drawing the foul on a made fast-break layup, and completed the three-point play with two seconds before the intermission.
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After a sluggish start for both teams, Mercer used a six-point run to take a 14-11 advantage by the second media timeout (11:49) of the first half. Dimitrijevic scored eight of his 18 points over the first nine minutes, scoring on three of his first four shots.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME
Djordje Dimitrijevic shined in his first Division IÂ start, scoring a game-high 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting. The junior played 35 minutes and added seven assists while committing just one turnover.
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NOTABLES
» Friday's contest was the first meeting between Mercer and UT Martin.
» Hoffman became the second coach in program history to reach the 200-win mark.
» Hoffman became the second active SoCon coach with 200 wins at his respective school (Mike Young, 271 wins at Wofford).
» Freshman guard Djordje Dimitrijevic earned his first Division I start at point guard.
» Stair and Dimitrijevic scored in double figures for the fourth and third time this season, respectively.
» Jaylen Stowe led Mercer with seven rebounds. Two other Bears – Ethan Stair and Fardaws Aimaq – tallied six rebounds apiece.
» The Bears totaled 11 three-pointers, including five by Ross Cummings, who finished with 17 points.
» Mercer scored 22 points off of 17 turnovers forced.
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QUOTABLES
Coach Bob Hoffman – "These things are very team oriented. I have had great players and great assistants since I have been here. I have been blessed tremendously with an administration that wants us to be successful and gives us opportunities to be successful. Our home crowd, no matter what night it is, always brings it. So many people go into it. Our success is everybody's success. I am just grateful that Mercer gave me an opportunity several years ago. I think we still have some serious business to take care of this season, but I am very fortunate to be able to do what I love to do."
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RECORDS UPDATE
» Mercer: 2-2
» UT Martin: 1-2
Â
UP NEXT
The Bears will stay at home to host Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at Hawkins Arena. The contest will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's 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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The Bears' latest deficit in the game (11-10) was with 12:34 remaining in the first half as they improved to 2-2 overall on the season. UT Martin fell to 1-2. Four Bears scored in double figures, led by a game-high 18 points from Djordje Dimitrijevic, who earned his first Division IÂ start at point guard.
Â
Mercer held the Skyhawks to 34 percent shooting in the second half and allowed just 25 points while running away with the 17-point victory. A layup by UT Martin with 3:42 remaining in the game cut Mercer's lead to 70-60 before the Bears closed out the contest with a three-pointer by Ross Cummings, a layup by Jaylen Stowe and a dunk by Ethan Stair.
Â
Mercer shot 53 percent (15-for-28) from the field and took a 40-35 lead into halftime. A steal by Dimitrijevic led to a fast-break dunk for Stowe with 2:19 left in the first half and gave Mercer a 37-30 advantage. The Skyhawks scored the next five points to cut their deficit, but Stowe came up big once again, drawing the foul on a made fast-break layup, and completed the three-point play with two seconds before the intermission.
Â
After a sluggish start for both teams, Mercer used a six-point run to take a 14-11 advantage by the second media timeout (11:49) of the first half. Dimitrijevic scored eight of his 18 points over the first nine minutes, scoring on three of his first four shots.
Â
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Djordje Dimitrijevic shined in his first Division IÂ start, scoring a game-high 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting. The junior played 35 minutes and added seven assists while committing just one turnover.
Â
NOTABLES
» Friday's contest was the first meeting between Mercer and UT Martin.
» Hoffman became the second coach in program history to reach the 200-win mark.
» Hoffman became the second active SoCon coach with 200 wins at his respective school (Mike Young, 271 wins at Wofford).
» Freshman guard Djordje Dimitrijevic earned his first Division I start at point guard.
» Stair and Dimitrijevic scored in double figures for the fourth and third time this season, respectively.
» Jaylen Stowe led Mercer with seven rebounds. Two other Bears – Ethan Stair and Fardaws Aimaq – tallied six rebounds apiece.
» The Bears totaled 11 three-pointers, including five by Ross Cummings, who finished with 17 points.
» Mercer scored 22 points off of 17 turnovers forced.
Â
QUOTABLES
Coach Bob Hoffman – "These things are very team oriented. I have had great players and great assistants since I have been here. I have been blessed tremendously with an administration that wants us to be successful and gives us opportunities to be successful. Our home crowd, no matter what night it is, always brings it. So many people go into it. Our success is everybody's success. I am just grateful that Mercer gave me an opportunity several years ago. I think we still have some serious business to take care of this season, but I am very fortunate to be able to do what I love to do."
Â
RECORDS UPDATE
» Mercer: 2-2
» UT Martin: 1-2
Â
UP NEXT
The Bears will stay at home to host Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at Hawkins Arena. The contest will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's 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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