Men’s Basketball Falls to Chattanooga, 70-61

Saturday, January 4

Macon, Ga.

4:30 p.m.

Mercer University

6-10,0-3SoCon

Chattanooga

10-5,1-1SoCon

Chattanooga

Mercer

Photo by: Judy Stapleton

Men’s Basketball Falls to Chattanooga, 70-61

1/4/2020 8:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Dimitrijevic scored 22 points in the loss

By: Travis Rae

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's basketball team dropped its third straight Southern Conference contest on Saturday evening in Hawkins Arena. The Bears were defeated, 70-61, by Chattanooga.

Djordje Dimitrijevic led the Bears with 22 points on the evening. Dimitrijevic went 2-for-7 on three-pointers and now has a three in each of the Bears last 14 games. Maciej Bender added 12 for the Bears, rounding out the double-figure scorers.

The Mocs came out and scored the first four points of the game before Ethan Stair hit a three and Bender had a layup putting the Bears ahead 5-4. After trading baskets, Chattanooga slowly grew its lead to six, 13-7, with 12:29 left in the half.

Mercer battled back and scored four straight and after a James Glisson III jumper, the Bears trailed 13-11. The Mocs looked as if they were going to stretch the lead to double-figures in the first half, but Daniel Love got a rebound and had a fastbreak layup putting the Bears down seven.

The Bears again cut the Mocs lead down to three, after a pair of free throws by Dimitrijevic. However, Chattanooga extended its lead back to double-figures, 35-25, after a Roman Vila jumper to end the half.

Opening the second half, the Bears and Mocs traded punches and a layup by Bender with 15:34 left in the game put the Bears down 10, 39-29. Mercer continued chipping away at the Mocs lead and after a Dimitrijevic layup, the Bears trailed by six, 39-33, with 13:10 remaining in the game.

After getting within six points, Chattanooga extended its lead back to double-figures. Each time the Bears got the game within single digits; the Mocs answered and grew the lead back to double-figures. With 4:37 left in the game, the Bears trailed 57-44.

Mercer would get the game within single digits, 59-51, but the lead grew back to ten points, 61-51, 30 seconds later. Mercer got within five in the final minute of the contest but would fall to the Mocs, 70-61.

QUOTABLES
Coach Greg Gary – "Physically they took us out of our game in the first half. They dominated us physically, they got where they wanted to, and then on our offensive end our movement and our cuts, our screening is non-existent because everything is more physical with us."

NOTABLES

Mercer shot 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) on three-pointers against the Mocs.
Djordje Dimitrijevic scored 22 points leading the Bears. This was his third time scoring over 20 points this season.
Maciej Bender went 6-of-8 from the field for 12 points.
The Bears committed 10 turnovers in the contest. The 10 turnovers are the second-fewest committed in a game this season.
Daniel Love collected a career-high eight rebounds against Chattanooga. His previous high was six, which was set on March 2, 2019, against UNCG.
Djordje Dimitrijevic went 2-for-7 on three-pointers and now has a three in each of the Bears last 14 games.

UP NEXT
The Bears return to action on Saturday, Jan. 11 when they travel to Cullowhee, N.C. to face Western Carolina. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

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.