Bears Prepare For Arkansas

Tuesday, November 9

Fayetteville, AR

8:00 PM ET

Mercer University

University of Arkansas

Photo by: Kayla Davis

11/8/2021 12:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Tip-Off is set for 8 pm ET

By: Jake List

FAYETTEVILLE, AR. – Your Mercer Bears will play their first non-exhibition match of the 2021-2022 season as they travel to Fayetteville Arkansas to face the Razorbacks in Bud Walton Arena.

BEAR NECESSITIES
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 | 8:00 p.m. ET
Matchup: Mercer (0-0) at Arkansas (0-0)
Location: Fayetteville, AR. | Bud Walton Arena
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
SEC NETWORK+:  Watch Here
Live Radio: 100.9 The Creek with Rick Cameron
Tickets: Buy Here.
Twitter Updates: @MercerMBB

LAST TIME OUT
The Bears are coming off a 32-point margin 93-61 victory after facing FVSU in a season opening exhibition match last Wednesday night, their first win of the 2021-22 campaign. Four players reached double-digits in scoring with Alvarez (18), Grant (12), Robertson (13), and Johnson (11). Haase led the Bears with 5 assists. Neftali shot an impressive 8-for-10 in his return to the floor, including a 2-for-2 tally from three-point range. Mercer has not faced the Razorbacks Arkansas in the Greg Gary era.

SERIES HISTORY
The Bears and Razorbacks are set at 4-1 in the series with the Razorbacks on top. Four of the five meetings have come on neutral courts including the first and last outings. Our first meeting was in the 1981 NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas. The Hogs won 73-67. Our last meeting was a 69-66 Mercer win in overtime at North Little Rock on Dec. 19, 2015.

SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas enters the 2021-22 season after reaching the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament. They would eventually end up losing to the 2020-2021 NCAA Champions, Baylor. The Razorbacks are celebrating their 30th anniversary of entering the SEC and has been picked 15th in the 2021-22 coaches preseason top 25 poll and 16th by AP. This is the first time Arkansas has appeared in the AP preseason poll since 2007-08, coming in at #19 that season. Since Eric Musselman's arrival, Arkansas leads the SEC in overall wins with 45 and overall home wins with 30. Arkansas returns five lettermen from last year, with eight total transfers listed on their roster this season. Arkansas lost four of its top five scorers, its top two rebounders, its top assist man and four of its top six steals producers.

Date                Location                       Result
12/19/2015      North Little Rock, AR W, 69-66
12/18/1999      Fayetteville, AR          L, 60-85
11/26/1999      Hilo, HI                         L, 54-71
1/5/1983          Pine Buff, AR               L, 62-83
3/12/1981        Austin, TX                    L, 67-73

Stay up to date on all your news by following @MercerMBB or visit MercerBears.com

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Purchase your 2021-22 season ticket here to watch the Bears in action at Hawkins Arena. The cost for the cushioned seating is $175 and $150 for reserved seating. Single game tickets are here.

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.