Wednesday, November 25
Macon, Ga.
1:00 PM
Mercer University
vs
North Georgia
Photo by: Ben Murray
Bears to Open 2020-21 Season Against North Georgia
11/24/2020 10:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
MACON, Ga. – Basketball season is upon us, and the Mercer Bears will start the 2020-21 by hosting in-state opponent North Georgia.
The Bears and Nighthawks have not met since the 1997-98. North Georgia, an NCAA Division II member, competes in the Peach Belt Conference. This is the season opener for both teams.
BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 | 1:00 p.m.
Matchup: North Georgia (0-0) at Mercer (0-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Live Stats: bit.ly/2Hzo2BS
Live Video: ESPN+ with Avery Braxton and Frank Malloy on the callÂ
Live Radio: 100.9 The Creek and SportsMic with Rick Cameron on the callÂ
Tickets:Â bit.ly/3pXBiBB
Hawkins Arena Protocols: Click Here
Promotion: Season Opener
Twitter Updates: @MercerMBB
Game Notes: Mercer
SERIES HISTORY
This is the 22nd meeting between the two teams. Mercer leads, 20-1. The two teams have not met since the 1997-98 campaign. Greg Gary has never faced North Georgia.
SCOUTING THE NIGHTHAWKS
North Georgia enters its second season with head coach Dan Evans at the helm. The Nighthawks went 14-15 overall and 9-11 in the Peach Belt Conference last season. UNG was led by K.J. Jenkins' 14.4 points per game. Jenkins transferred to a JUCO after his redshirt freshman season. Zach Brown (8.2 ppg) is the Nighthawks' returning leading scorer. Remarkably, this is currently North Georgia's only scheduled game until January when Peach Belt Conference play begins.
ROSS CUMMINGS NEARING RECORDS
Ross Cummings is only 140 points away from joining the 1,000 point club. In his four years at Mercer, Cummings has racked up 840 points; 538 came his junior year. The last Bear to join the 1,000 point club was Ethan Stair. Stair joined the club last season on Jan. 28 at Samford. The all-time leading scorer is James Florence. Florence played for the Bears from 2006-10 and tallied 2,286 points in his career.
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1,000 Point Scorers
Rk.      Name                         Pts.
T38.    Jim Hearn                   1,034
T38.    Reggie Elliott              1,034
40.      Rodney Kirtz               1,025
41.      Donnie Veal                1,023
42.      Dartez Talbott             1,014
           Ross Cummings         860
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The sharpshooting Cummings is also nearing Mercer's all-time three-pointers made record, currently held by fan-favorite Langston Hall. Hall, who led the Bears to a stunning upset of No. 3 Duke in the NCAA Tournament in 2014, knocked down 256 treys. James Florence, the Bears' all-time leading scorer knocked down 242 shots from beyond the arc. E.J. Kusnyer (190) sits third. Kusnyer set Mercer's single-season record of 107 in 2009-10. Cummings is fourth with 173 triples.
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Rk.      Name                         3's
1         Langston Hall             256
2.        James Florence          242
3.        E.J. Kusnyer               190
4.        Ross Cummings         173
5.        Bud Thomas               161
MERCER VS. IN-STATE FOES
Mercer will face-off against in-state opponents seven times this season. The Bears all-time record against these in-state opponents is 146-143. Below is Mercer's record against this year's opponents from the state of Georgia. The Bears begin by battling North Georgia Wednesday before taking on Georgia Tech (Nov. 27), Georgia State (Nov. 30, Dec. 16), Middle Georgia State (Dec. 6), Georgia Southern (Dec. 13), Georgia Southwestern State (Dec. 19) and Kennesaw State (Dec. 22).
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Team                                      Record
North Georgia                         20-1
Georgia Tech                          16-28
Georgia State                         46-38
Middle Georgia State              2-0
Georgia Southern                   41-69
Georgia Southwestern State   4-1
Kennesaw State                     17-6
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MERCER IN PAST SEASON OPENERS
In the past five seasons, Mercer has won three of the last five season openers. From the 2015-2018 season, the Bears won their season openers. In 2015, Mercer defeated Allen 96-70 in Hawkins Arena. The following season, the Black and Orange skated their way to a victory with an 87-53 win over Brewton-Parker. Mercer has lost the last three season openers - at UCF in Nov. 2017, at UAB the following season and last season at St. John's.Â
Date              Opponent      Result
11/13/2015     Allen               W, 96-70
11/11/2016Â Â Â Â Â Brewton-Parker W, 87-53
11/10/2018Â Â Â Â Â at UCFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L, 88-79Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
11/6/2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Â UABÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L, 75-67Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
11/6/2020       at St. John's    L, 109-79
HOME SWEET HOME
Hawkins Arena has been kind to the Bears in recent years. Each of the past two seasons, Mercer has gone 9-6 on their home floor. In 2017-18, the Bears were 11-3 inside Hawkins Arena. Below is Mercer's record at home since the 2016-17 campaign. Mercer is 37-24 at home since that campaign.
Season           Record                    Â
2016-17Â Â Â Â Â Â 8-7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2017-18Â Â Â Â Â Â 11-3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2018-19Â Â Â Â Â Â 9-7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2019-20Â Â Â Â Â Â 9-7
2020-21Â Â Â Â Â Â 0-0
Total         37-24     Â
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.     Â
The Bears and Nighthawks have not met since the 1997-98. North Georgia, an NCAA Division II member, competes in the Peach Belt Conference. This is the season opener for both teams.
BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 | 1:00 p.m.
Matchup: North Georgia (0-0) at Mercer (0-0)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
Live Stats: bit.ly/2Hzo2BS
Live Video: ESPN+ with Avery Braxton and Frank Malloy on the callÂ
Live Radio: 100.9 The Creek and SportsMic with Rick Cameron on the callÂ
Tickets:Â bit.ly/3pXBiBB
Hawkins Arena Protocols: Click Here
Promotion: Season Opener
Twitter Updates: @MercerMBB
Game Notes: Mercer
SERIES HISTORY
This is the 22nd meeting between the two teams. Mercer leads, 20-1. The two teams have not met since the 1997-98 campaign. Greg Gary has never faced North Georgia.
SCOUTING THE NIGHTHAWKS
North Georgia enters its second season with head coach Dan Evans at the helm. The Nighthawks went 14-15 overall and 9-11 in the Peach Belt Conference last season. UNG was led by K.J. Jenkins' 14.4 points per game. Jenkins transferred to a JUCO after his redshirt freshman season. Zach Brown (8.2 ppg) is the Nighthawks' returning leading scorer. Remarkably, this is currently North Georgia's only scheduled game until January when Peach Belt Conference play begins.
ROSS CUMMINGS NEARING RECORDS
Ross Cummings is only 140 points away from joining the 1,000 point club. In his four years at Mercer, Cummings has racked up 840 points; 538 came his junior year. The last Bear to join the 1,000 point club was Ethan Stair. Stair joined the club last season on Jan. 28 at Samford. The all-time leading scorer is James Florence. Florence played for the Bears from 2006-10 and tallied 2,286 points in his career.
Â
1,000 Point Scorers
Rk.      Name                         Pts.
T38.    Jim Hearn                   1,034
T38.    Reggie Elliott              1,034
40.      Rodney Kirtz               1,025
41.      Donnie Veal                1,023
42.      Dartez Talbott             1,014
           Ross Cummings         860
Â
The sharpshooting Cummings is also nearing Mercer's all-time three-pointers made record, currently held by fan-favorite Langston Hall. Hall, who led the Bears to a stunning upset of No. 3 Duke in the NCAA Tournament in 2014, knocked down 256 treys. James Florence, the Bears' all-time leading scorer knocked down 242 shots from beyond the arc. E.J. Kusnyer (190) sits third. Kusnyer set Mercer's single-season record of 107 in 2009-10. Cummings is fourth with 173 triples.
Â
Rk.      Name                         3's
1         Langston Hall             256
2.        James Florence          242
3.        E.J. Kusnyer               190
4.        Ross Cummings         173
5.        Bud Thomas               161
MERCER VS. IN-STATE FOES
Mercer will face-off against in-state opponents seven times this season. The Bears all-time record against these in-state opponents is 146-143. Below is Mercer's record against this year's opponents from the state of Georgia. The Bears begin by battling North Georgia Wednesday before taking on Georgia Tech (Nov. 27), Georgia State (Nov. 30, Dec. 16), Middle Georgia State (Dec. 6), Georgia Southern (Dec. 13), Georgia Southwestern State (Dec. 19) and Kennesaw State (Dec. 22).
Â
Team                                      Record
North Georgia                         20-1
Georgia Tech                          16-28
Georgia State                         46-38
Middle Georgia State              2-0
Georgia Southern                   41-69
Georgia Southwestern State   4-1
Kennesaw State                     17-6
Â
MERCER IN PAST SEASON OPENERS
In the past five seasons, Mercer has won three of the last five season openers. From the 2015-2018 season, the Bears won their season openers. In 2015, Mercer defeated Allen 96-70 in Hawkins Arena. The following season, the Black and Orange skated their way to a victory with an 87-53 win over Brewton-Parker. Mercer has lost the last three season openers - at UCF in Nov. 2017, at UAB the following season and last season at St. John's.Â
Date              Opponent      Result
11/13/2015     Allen               W, 96-70
11/11/2016Â Â Â Â Â Brewton-Parker W, 87-53
11/10/2018Â Â Â Â Â at UCFÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L, 88-79Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
11/6/2019Â Â Â Â Â Â Â UABÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â L, 75-67Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
11/6/2020       at St. John's    L, 109-79
HOME SWEET HOME
Hawkins Arena has been kind to the Bears in recent years. Each of the past two seasons, Mercer has gone 9-6 on their home floor. In 2017-18, the Bears were 11-3 inside Hawkins Arena. Below is Mercer's record at home since the 2016-17 campaign. Mercer is 37-24 at home since that campaign.
Season           Record                    Â
2016-17Â Â Â Â Â Â 8-7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2017-18Â Â Â Â Â Â 11-3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2018-19Â Â Â Â Â Â 9-7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2019-20Â Â Â Â Â Â 9-7
2020-21Â Â Â Â Â Â 0-0
Total         37-24     Â
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.     Â
Players Mentioned
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