Bears Take Winning Streak On The Road To The Citadel

MACON, Ga. – Mercer's men's basketball team, winner of its last six games, travels to Charleston, S.C., to take on The Citadel Bulldogs on Friday. Tipoff time at McAlister Field House is 6 p.m. (ET).

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Date: Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 | 6 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (16-13, 9-7 SoCon) vs. The Citadel (10-18, 5-11 SoCon)
Location: Charleston, S.C. | McAlister Field House
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 15-5
• Current Streak: L1
• Last Meeting: L, 76-74 (1/27/18)

BEAR NECESSITIES
About The Bulldogs
The Citadel comes into Friday's game fresh off an 84-82 upset win over Southern Conference-leading East Tennessee State Tuesday night in Johnson City. The Bulldogs are 10-18 overall and 5-11 in SoCon play. The Citadel is the league's top scoring team, averaging 84.2 points per game. The Bulldogs make a league-leading 11.8 three pointers per outing and rank No. 1 in the conference in assists (16.8) and steals (9.8) … Zane Najdawi leads the club in scoring (15.5), third best in the SoCon, and also tops the league in field goal shooting percentage (52.6%) … Matt Frierson is the team's second leading scorer (13.5) and is 2^nd in the conference in three-pointers made per game (3.5) … Frankie Johnson ranks third in the SoCon in steals (1.8) and 5^th in the league in assists (4.3) … Duggar Baucom is in his 3^rd season as head coach of The Citadel and his 13^th season overall as a head coach. Coach Baucom was head coach at VMI for 10 seasons (2005-15) where he compiled a 151-159 record. He is 32-61 at The Citadel and 183-220 overall as a head coach.

Series History
This will be the 21^st meeting between these two schools. Mercer leads the all-time series 15-5. The Citadel snapped Mercer's 13-game winning streak in the series with a 76-74 victory over the Bears Jan. 27 in Macon. Mercer is 6-1 vs. the Bulldogs in Charleston. Coach Bob Hoffman is 7-1 vs. The Citadel during his tenure at Mercer. In the last meeting between these two clubs, Mercer had a 10-point lead early in the second half (40-30) before The Citadel went on a 20-0 run over the next six minutes to take a 50-40 lead. The Bulldogs stretched the lead to 16 with 8:10 remaining before Mercer rallied back to cut the deficit to 65-62 with 2:13 left. The Citadel hit some clutch free throws down the stretch to thwart some last minute-heroics by Mercer's Jordan Strawberry and Ross Cummings to pull out the two-point win.

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

1st in rebounding defense (29.0)
1^st in field goal% (47.8%)
2^nd in rebounding margin (+5.6)
2^nd in 3-pt. field goal% (39.4%)
3^rd in scoring defense (68.7)
T3^rd in field goal% defense (43.1%)
3^rd in free throw% (75.3%)

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

Stephon Jelks – 1st in defensive rebounds (5.6)
Stephon Jelks – 3rd in rebounding (7.3)
Jordan Strawberry – 1st in assist/turnover ratio (3.1)
Jordan Strawberry – 3^rd in free throw% (87.1%)
Jordan Strawberry – 3rd in assists (4.7)
Ross Cummings – 1st in 3-pt.% (45.2%)

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 195 games as Mercer's head coach (2008-present) for a current total of 506 victories. 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.

Senior Trio Joins The 1,000-Point Club
Three Mercer senior starters – Stephon Jelks, Jordan Strawberry, and Demetre Rivers – have all joined the school's 1,000-point club this season
Last month Stephon Jelks became 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 Friday's game with 1,072 career points, which ranks 32^nd in school history. Next in line for Jelks to pass include Tony Bolds (1,085/1982-84) and teammate Jordan Strawberry (1,098/2014-present). Earlier this month Mercer senior guard Jordan Strawberry became the 40^th player in Mercer men's basketball history to score 1,000 or more career points. Strawberry enters The Citadel's game with 1,098 career points, which ranks 29^th in school history. Next in line for Strawberry to pass include Jerry Thurston (1,099/1975-77) and Shaddean Aaron (1,115/2005-08). In Mercer's win earlier this week against Western Carolina, Rivers eclipsed the 1,000-point mark with a 24-point effort vs. the Catamounts. That gives Rivers 1,010 career points, which currently ranks 41^st in school history. Next in line for Rivers to pass include Dartez Talbott (1,014/1979-81), Donnie Veal (1,023/1958-61), and Rodney Kirtz (1,025/1998-01).

Jelks Moves Up Career Rebounding Charts
Jelks is also climbing up the school's career rebounding charts. He comes into the Citadel game with 811 career rebounds, which currently ranks 3rd on the all-time career rebounding charts. Jelks is only the 3rd player in Mercer men's basketball history to score more than 1,000 points and grab more than 800 rebounds during his career, joining Steve Moody and Scott Emerson on that illustrious list.

Strawberry Climbs Up Career Assists List
Strawberry comes into the Citadel game with 464 career assists, which is 3^rd best in school history. Strawberry is one of only three Mercer players to score more than 1,000 points and dish out more than 400 assists in a career. The other two players who have surpassed those two milestones are Langston Hall and James Florence.

Ringer Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
Senior postman Desmond Ringer has been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District team. This squad annually recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for the combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Ringer, a 6-9 product of McDonough, Ga., was selected to the NCAA Division I District 4 team, which represents universities in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Puerto Rico. Ringer has compiled a 3.90 Grade Point Average while majoring in Higher Education. He has started all 29 games for the Bears this season and is averaging 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Ringer is shooting a team-best 61.2% from the field and his 59.9% career field goal mark is best among active SoCon players. He is also hitting 82.9% of his free throw attempts and his play has been instrumental during Mercer's current six-game winning streak.

Bear Tracks

Mercer won its sixth straight contest Tuesday evening with a convincing 81-64 win over WCU on Senior Night in Hawkins Arena. The Bears currently own the longest winning streak in the SoCon. In the victory over the Catamounts, Rivers equaled his season-high with 24 points, hitting nine of 12 field goals, including three of four from three point land. Rivers went over the 1,000 career scoring mark with his offensive output that evening.
Strawberry played one of his finest games in his Mercer career in the Feb. 17 home court comeback win over UNCG. In that victory the senior guard connected on eight of 14 field goal attempts and nailed all 11 of his free throws to tally a game-high 27 points … Strawberry comes into Citadel game with a career free throw shooting percentage of 86.0% (228-265). That ranks 10^th on the SoCon's career list. Strawberry ranks 3^rd in the SoCon in free throw shooting for all games played, connecting on 87.1% of his attempts. In conference action only, Strawberry leads the league in free throw shooting (93.2%), having nailed 55 of 59 attempts … Strawberry continues to rank as the SoCon leader in assist/turnover ratio (3.1), which ranks 1st in the league. Strawberry dished out seven assists in the win over Samford, handed out six assists in the victory at VMI, passed for five assists vs. UNCG and distributed six assists in the home game vs. Furman. Strawberry also handed out seven dimes in the Feb. 12 win over Samford and dealt eight assists in the Feb. 15 triumph over VMI. On Senior Night in the win over WCU, he dished out a game-high eight assists. The senior guard has 136 assists on the season (4.7 per game/3rd in the league) while committing just 44 turnovers … Strawberry scored 22 points vs. The Citadel and went for 18 points in vs. Furman. In the Feb. 3 victory over Wofford, Strawberry dished out a game-high five assists and dealt out eight dimes in a most recent outing vs. UTC … His 18-point, seven-assist, and six-rebound showing in the win over Samford may have been his best all-around performance of the season.
Jelks leads the SoCon with 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 4th leading scorer (10.0) and he is the league's 3rd leading rebounder (7.4) … Jelks' 806 career rebounds ranks best among active SoCon players … Jelks has eight games this season of 10 rebounds are more; most in the league so far.
Desmond Ringer is playing the basketball of his career in this his senior season. 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 6.9 boards per outing, which is T4th 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. Ringer turned in an impressive 16-point, six-rebound effort in the home win over Wofford … Des showed up big in the road win at UTC, scoring a team-high 17 points on 8-9 shooting while grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. His traditional three-point play with 3:23 remaining gave the Bears a 72-71 lead in what might have been the biggest play of the game … Des was a perfect 5-5 from the free throw stripe in the home victory over VMI and nailed all six of his field goal attempts in the Senior Night victory over WCU … Ringer's career field goal percentage of 59.9% is best among active SoCon performers.
Demetre Rivers is Mercer's 2nd leading scorer (10.9) and is hitting a team-best 89.3% from the free throw stripe … He equaled his season-high in points with a sterling 24-point effort in the Senior Night victory over WCU, a point production that sent him over the 1,000-point mark in his career … Rivers also scored 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. He tallied some big baskets down the stretch in the win over Wofford, finishing with 10 points, including 2-3 from three point range, and followed that up with a solid 13-point effort in the victory over Chattanooga … Rivers exploded for 21 points in the Feb. 15 win over VMI, hitting seven of eight field goals, including three of four behind the three point arc … Rivers' career 85.8% from the free throw line ranks 4th among active SoCon players.
Ross Cummings has been on fire over the past eight games and his accurate outside shooting is a big reason the Bears have put together this winning streak. During this eight-game stretch, he is averaging 18.1 points while shooting 49.4% from the field (46-93) and 50.7% from three point range (35-69). Deemed the "Mamba," for raising his ability to another level, Cummings went for a career-high 22 points against Wofford, sinking six of eight three point shots, including three crucial baskets down the stretch. He went for 16 points on 6-12 shooting (4-6 on 3's) in the win over UTC … The "Mamba" scored 13 second half points enroute to a team-high 21-point effort in the Feb. 12 win at Samford … Cummings tallied 13 points in the Feb. 15 victory over VMI … In last Saturday's comeback win over UNCG, Cummings broke his career-high by hitting for 23 points, knocking down seven of 10 field goal attempts, including four of six from behind the three point arc. Cummings totaled 19 points in the Feb. 20 victory over WCU, hitting five of eight three pointers … Cummings has started the past seven games in place of the injured Ria'n Holland.
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 … In the Feb. 20 victory over WCU Cohen hit for eight points in just 11 minutes of action.
Jaylen Stowe came off the bench against Furman to tally 10 points, which equaled his career high. He also grabbed a career-best nine rebounds … Stowe had an eight-point scoring effort in the Feb. 15 victory over VMI.
Ethan Stair started in the place of the injured Ria'n Holland in the Jan. 20 contest against UNCG and contributed 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Mercer received solid play off the bench in its win over UTC, with Cory Kilby scoring five, Ryan Johnson four, and Mac Brydon and Stowe contributing two points apiece … Johnson came off the bench to toss in seven points in just six minutes of action vs. Samford … Kilby scored 11 points coming off the bench in the Feb. 20 win over VMI.
Mercer has four players hitting 80% or better from the free throw line, including Rivers (89.3%); Strawberry (87.1%); Holland (83.6%); and Ringer (82.9%).

What's Next
Mercer concludes the regular season portion of its schedule by traveling to Spartanburg, S.C., to face the Wofford Terriers Sunday, Feb. 25. Tipoff at Richardson Indoor Stadium is 2 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.

Bears Take Winning Streak On The Road To The Citadel

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Players Mentioned

Mac Brydon

Ross Cummings

Stephon Jelks

Ryan Johnson

Cory Kilby

Desmond Ringer

Demetre Rivers

Jordan Strawberry

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Mercer University Athletics

Bears Take Winning Streak On The Road To The Citadel

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Players Mentioned

Mac Brydon

Ross Cummings

Stephon Jelks

Ryan Johnson

Cory Kilby

Desmond Ringer

Demetre Rivers

Jordan Strawberry

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