Mercer Opens CBI With Trip to Grand Canyon

MACON, Ga. – Mercer's men's basketball team travels to Phoenix, Ariz., to take on Grand Canyon University Wednesday, March 14 in the opening round of the 2018 College Basketball Invitational. Tipoff time at Grand Canyon University Arena is 10 p.m. (ET).

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2018 | 10 p.m. (ET)
Teams: Mercer (18-14, 11-7 SoCon) vs. Grand Canyon (22-11, 9-5 WAC)
Location: Phoenix, Ariz. | Grand Canyon University Arena
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/LiveStats
TV: ESPN3
Twitter Updates: @MercerMBB

SERIES HISTORY
• First Meeting

BEAR NECESSITIES
About The Antelopes
Grand Canyon University brings an overall record of 22-11 into Wednesday's contest. The Antelopes finished 9-5 in the Western Athletic Conference, earning the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. Grand Canyon advanced to the championship game of the WAC Tournament before losing to New Mexico State 72-58. Grand Canyon has won five of its last six games … The Antelopes ranked as one of the best defensive clubs in the WAC. GCU was 2nd in the league in scoring defense (64.7); 2^nd in the conference in field goal percentage defense (39.9%); 1^st in the league in three-point field goal defense (27.0%); 2^nd in the conference in blocked shots (3.9); and 3^rd in the league in scoring margin (+9.2). Grand Canyon also does a good job of protecting the basketball, as the Lopes were 1^st in the WAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.2); 2^nd in assists (15.8); and 3^rd in turnover margin (+1.67) … Center Alessandro Lever was named the WAC's Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference after leading Grand Canyon in scoring with a 12.2 average … Joshua Braun, the team's 2^nd leading scorer (11.8), was named 2^nd team All-WAC, while Oscar Frayer was named to the league's all-defensive team … Guard Casey Benson ranks 3^rd in the WAC in assists (4.4) and assist/turnover ratio (2.3) … Grand Canyon is 16-2 at home this season, with its only two losses coming to St. John's and WAC champion New Mexico State … This marks GCU's fourth straight post-season tournament appearance, as the Antelopes appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament the previous three years … Head Coach Dan Majerle is in his fifth season as the Antelopes' head coach. The former NBA standout and U.S. Olympic Gold Medal winner is 103-57 during his tenure at GCU and has led the team to three straight 20+ winning seasons.

Series History
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Mercer's Postseason Tournament History
This marks Mercer's eighth trip to postseason play and the sixth in the past seven years under Head Coach Bob Hoffman. Mercer is 8-6 in postseason games. Here is a look at the Bears' postseason history:

NCAA Tournament (three appearances/1-3)
- 1980-81 – L 73-67 vs. Arkansas (N)
- 1984-85 – L 65-58 vs. Georgia Tech (N)
- 2013-14 – W 78-71 vs. Duke (N); L 83-63 vs. Tennessee (N)
National Invitation Tournament (one appearance/1-1)
- 2012-13 – W 75-67 vs. Tennessee (A); L 90-71 vs. BYU (A)
CollegeInsider.com Tournament (two appearances/5-1)
- 2011-12 – W 68-60 vs. Tennessee State (H); W 64-59 vs. Georgia State (H); W 79-73 vs. ODU (A); W 64-59 vs. Fairfield (A); W 70-67 vs. Utah State (A) CHAMPIONS
- 2015-16 – L 65-57 vs. Coastal Carolina (A)
College Basketball Invitational (one appearance/1-1)
- 2014-15 – W 72-70 vs. Stony Brook (H); L 71-69 vs. UL-Monroe (H)

The College Basketball Invitational (CBI)
The CBI was created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament or the National Invitation Tournament. In the CBI, teams compete on home courts. It is a single-elimination tournament until the final two teams are determined, after which the championship is decided by a championship series with a best-two-out-of-three format. Wyoming was the 2017 CBI champion, defeating Coastal Carolina in the final round.

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 (28.9)
1^st in field goal% (47.7%)
2^nd in rebounding margin (+5.7)
2^nd in 3-pt. field goal% (38.8%)
3^rd in free throw% (75.6%)
3^rd in field goal% defense (43.2%)
4th in assist/turnover margin (1.2)
4^th in scoring offense (75.5)
4th in scoring defense (68.9)
4^th in scoring margin (+6.6)

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

Stephon Jelks – 2nd in defensive rebounds (5.5)
Stephon Jelks – 2nd in rebounding (7.3)
Jordan Strawberry – 1st in assist/turnover ratio (2.9)
Jordan Strawberry – 2^nd in free throw% (86.4%)
Jordan Strawberry – 3rd in assists (4.9)

Strawberry and Jelks Earn All-Southern Conference Honors
Mercer senior men's basketball student-athletes Jordan Strawberry and Stephon Jelks have received All-Southern Conference accolades as announced by the league office Feb. 28.

Both players, who joined the school's 1,000-point club earlier this season, were named to the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA) second-team. In the coaches' voting, Strawberry earned third-team all-league honors.

Strawberry, a 6-1 guard from Anaheim, Calif., is one of the conference's top all around backcourt performers. He leads the league in assist/turnover ratio (2.9), ranks third in assists (4.9) and is the SoCon's second leading free throw shooter (86.4%). Strawberry, who is averaging 11.1 points per game, heads into this week's tournament action with 484 career assists, which ranks third best in school history. He has scored 1,154 career points, currently 20th on the Mercer career chart, and is one of only three Mercer players to score more than 1,000 points and dish out more than 400 assists in a career.

Jelks has been one of the league's top rebounders this season. He currently averages 7.3 boards per game, second best in the SoCon, and is scoring at a 9.9 clip. The 6-6 forward from Marietta, Ga., leads the conference in double-double performances with seven. Jelks is the third all-time leading rebounder in Mercer history with 830 career boards, which ranks best among all active SoCon players. He currently has 1,105 career points and is only the third player in Mercer men's basketball history to score more than 1,000 points and grab more than 800 rebounds during his career.

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 32 games for the Bears this season and is averaging 9.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Ringer is shooting a team-best 60.3% from the field and his 59.7% career field goal mark (274-460) 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 late-season surge.

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 197 games as Mercer's head coach (2008-present) for a current total of 508 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. Additionally, Mercer will be making its sixth post-season appearance in the past seven seasons – all during Coach Hoffman's tenure.

Senior Trio Joins The 1,000-Point Club
In January 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., currently has 1,105 career points, which ranks 29th in school history. In February 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 CBI tourney with 1,154 career points, which ranks 20^th on the career scoring chart. In Mercer's Feb. 20 win against Western Carolina, Rivers eclipsed the 1,000-point mark with a 24-point effort vs. the Catamounts. He followed that up with a superb 22-point showing against The Citadel. Rivers enters the CBI with 1,047 career points, which ranks 36th on the all-time list.

Jelks Moves Up Career Rebounding Charts
Jelks is also climbing up the school's career rebounding charts. He comes into the CBI with 830 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 CBI with 484 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.

Bear Tracks

Mercer saw its eight-game winning streak come to an end with a 73-53 loss to Wofford in the Southern Conference Tournament March 3 in Asheville, N.C. In that contest, the Bears shot just 38.6% from the field and committed 18 turnovers. Jelks turned in his league-high seventh double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Strawberry scored a team-high 18 points … In the regular season finale victory over Wofford, Strawberry turned in a 21-point, seven-rebound, six-assist effort, scoring the game-winning basket with less than 10 seconds remaining … In the Feb. 23 victory over The Citadel, Rivers, who prepped at nearby Stratford High School, scored a game-high 22 points while playing in front of dozens of family members and friends from the Charleston area. In the Senior Night victory over WCU, 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 eventual SoCon champion 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 the CBI with a career free throw shooting percentage of 85.8% (242-282). That ranks 10^th on the SoCon's career list. Strawberry ranks 2nd in the SoCon in free throw shooting, connecting on 86.4% of his attempts … Strawberry continues to rank as the SoCon leader in assist/turnover ratio (2.9), 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. He recorded a season-high nine assists in the Feb. 23 victory at The Citadel. The senior guard has 156 assists on the season (4.9 per game/3rd in the league) while committing just 53 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 was another superb all-around performance of the season.
Jelks leads the SoCon with seven 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 (9.9) and he is the league's 2nd leading rebounder (7.3) … Jelks' 830 career rebounds ranks best among active SoCon players … Jelks has nine games this season of 10 rebounds or more.
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 7.0 boards per outing, which is 4th 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 … Des pulled down a team-high seven boards in the Feb. 23 win at The Citadel and followed that up with a solid 10-point, nine-rebound showing in the Feb. 25 win at Wofford. Ringer tallied 11 points and grabbed nine boards in the SoCon Tourney loss to Wofford … Ringer's career field goal percentage of 59.7% is best among active SoCon performers.
Demetre Rivers is Mercer's 3rd leading scorer (11.0) and is hitting a team-best 89.4% from the free throw stripe … Rivers recently put together back-to-back outings in which he has scored 20 or more points … Rivers poured in a game-high 22 points in the Feb. 23 triumph at The Citadel. 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 86.1% from the free throw line (198-230) ranks 4th among active SoCon players.
Ross Cummings has scored in double figures in nine of the past 11 games. 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 went for 14 points in the Feb. 23 win at The Citadel.
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. He turned in a solid performance in the Feb. 23 win at The Citadel, scoring six points and grabbing seven rebounds in 16 minutes of play and also showed up big in the Feb. 25 victory at Wofford, tallying five points, including a three pointer, and grabbing three 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. Johnson also contributed two points in the Feb. 25 win at Wofford … Kilby scored 11 points coming off the bench in the Feb. 20 win over VMI. Kilby's offensive play was clutch in the Feb. 23 win over The Citadel, as he hit four of six shots to score nine points in 20 minutes of action and scored four points in the Feb. 25 triumph at Wofford.
Mercer has four players hitting 80% or better from the free throw line, including Rivers (89.4%); Strawberry (86.4%); Holland (83.6%); and Ringer (82.9%).

Holland Sidelined With Injury
Ria'n Holland, a preseason all-conference selection, has been sidelined since Jan. 18 with a hand injury. The senior guard was averaging 19 points prior to his injury. He had scored in double figures in all 16 games he had played this season and had reached the double figure mark in 43 of his 48 career games as a Bear. Holland was also 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.

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Players Mentioned

Mac Brydon

Ria'n Holland

Stephon Jelks

Ryan Johnson

Cory Kilby

Desmond Ringer

Jordan Strawberry

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