Bears' Winning Streak Snapped at UNCG

Wednesday, January 27

Greensboro, N.C.

7:00 PM

Mercer University

10-5,3-4SoCon

UNCG

11-5,6-2SoCon

Mercer

UNC Greensboro

Photo by: Titouan Le Roux

1/27/2021 9:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Ross Cummings dished out a career-best seven assists.

By: Kraig Doremus

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Mercer Bears hit six of their first seven shots, but the fast start did not last as the UNCG Spartans defeated the Bears, 81-68, on Wednesday night.

Mercer (10-5, 3-4 SoCon) led by as many as five in the first 2:40 of the opening half, but the Spartans responded, battling to take a 19-17 lead prior to the 13-minute mark, which it held for the remainder of the game.

UNCG's (11-5, 6-2 SoCon) largest lead of the opening half came with 7:26 until the intermission when Hayden Koval connected from downtown, but the Bears clawed their way to within four prior to the buzzer sounding. Mercer had shaved just two points off that 11-point advantage by the 1:55 mark of the first half, but a James Glisson III layup followed by Ross Cummings' corner three-pointer made it a two-possession game, 37-33. The Spartans closed the half on a 4-0 run, and Isaiah Miller capitalized off a Mercer turnover with 12 seconds left, beating the buzzer to send the Orange & Black to the locker room down eight.

UNCG's advantage stayed between seven to 11 points early in the second half, but Leon Ayers III and Felipe Haase helped Mercer pull within four, 59-55, with 10:13 to play. Seemingly every time the Bears threatened, the Spartans answered with baskets of their own to extend their advantage. The Bears did manage to make it a three-point game on two occasions, the last coming when Cummings' layup made it 63-60 with 8:53 left in the contest.

Mercer went cold over the last eight-plus minutes, scoring only eight points to UNCG's 18. Isaiah Miller's step back jumper with 3:49 left gave UNCG a 13-point lead, its largest of the night, and the Bears were unable to get the Spartans' advantage under 10. When the final horn sounded, Mercer fell, 81-68.

Mercer shot a decent 49 percent (24-of-49) from the floor and were led by Haase's team-high 17 points. Neftali Alvarez added 12 points. The redshirt sophomore guard hit his first four shots of the night before heading to the bench for an extended break after picking up two quick fouls. Cummings was the third and final Bear in double figures with 10 points.

Miller, the Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year, led the Spartans to the win with a game-high 22 points. Miller was 11-of-22 on the night and was one of five UNCG players to reach double figures. Keyshaun Langley and Angelo Allegri each scored while Koval and A.J. McGinnis contributed 11 and 10 respectively. UNCG shot 47 percent (31-of-66) and took advantage of 14 Mercer miscues, scoring 17 total points.

Coach Greg Gary Quotables
ON THE GAME
"We didn't play good enough defense. We allowed them to do what they wanted, and we did not rebound. We gave up six three-pointers off offensive rebounds. We turned the ball 14 times and gave them 17 points off those six turnovers. We did not do our jobs tonight."

ON UNCG'S MOMENTUM SWING
"Neftali [Alvarez] picked up two quick fouls early. It is a lesson for all of us that we have to be more disciplined. UNCG went on a big swing late in the [first] half. Against good teams you cannot allow that to happen."

NOTABLES

Mercer's three-game winning streak was snapped.
Alvarez has been in double figures in four of his last five games.
Alvarez shot a season-best 71.4 percent (5-of-7).
Cummings is now 33^rd Mercer's scoring leaders list with 1,093 points.
Cummings is five points away from 32^nd place and seven away from 31^st all-time.
Cummings' 10 points placed him in double figures for the 13^th time in 15 games this season.
In addition to 10 points, the redshirt senior guard distributed the ball well, setting a new career-high with seven assists.
Haase reached double figures for the third consecutive contest.
Maciej Bender shot 4-of-8 from the floor. Tonight marked the fifth time in the last six games he has connected on 50 percent or better of his shots.
Mercer shot 81.7 (13-of-16) from the charity stripe, eclipsing 80 percent for fourth time this season and second time in league play.

UP NEXT
The Bears will complete a two-game road trip at Wofford on Saturday at 4 p.m. Fans can catch the game live on ESPN+ or listen to Rick Cameron's radio broadcast on the Mercer Sports Network – 100.9 The Creek and SportsMic.

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.