Mercer University
Furman
Bears Prep for the Paladins
1/28/2022 11:57:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Men’s tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. ET.
MACON, Ga. – Mercer is back home as they host the Furman Paladins in Hawkins Arena on Saturday, Jan. 29 with tip-off slated for 6 p.m. This game will be the second matchup in a doubleheader shared with Mercer Women's Basketball. BEAR NECESSITIES Date: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022 | 6 p.m. Matchup: Mercer (12-9, 5-3 SoCon) vs Furman (15-7, 7-2 SoCon) Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena Live Stats: StatBroadcast Radio: Listen Here TV: CBS Sports Network / Watch Here Twitter Updates: @MercerMBB Tickets: Buy Here LAST TIME OUT: The Orange & Black split its season series with the Samford Bulldogs after a 75-61 loss in the Pete Hanna Center.
In that contest, a total of nine different Bears saw the court. Jalen Johnson led three players in double figures with 13 points on 8-of-15 shooting, and going 100% from the free throw line. Kamar Robertson contributed off the bench with 11 points and led the Bears with 4 assists. Felipe Haase recorded his fourth double-double of the 2021-22 against the Bulldogs with 10 points and 12 boards. SERIES HISTORY: The series is set at 9-21 for the Bears and Paladins, with Mercer looking get to revenge against their earlier matchup in the season and to chip away at the Paladin lead. Their last meeting was in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. on Jan. 8, 2022, where Furman bested the Bears and won 81-66.
SCOUTING THE PALADINS:
Furman is coming off an 79-64 victory against the VMI Keydets in Timmons Arena. The Paladins improve to 15-7 on the season and 7-2 in conference play. Conley Garrison scored a game high 22 points, and Jalen Slawson chipped in 21, to lead the Furman men's basketball team to its third consecutive victory, and fifth in a row at home over SoCon opponents. Garrison and Slawson both knocked down eight field goals in the contest while combining for nine of the Paladins' 14 3-pointers.
Furman has three players averaging double figure in points. Mike Bothwell paces the paladins with 15.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Jalen Slawson adds 15.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, followed by Alex Hunter with 14.6 points.
UP NEXT GRAPHIC:𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 @CBSSportsNet‼️
— Mercer Men's Basketball (@MercerMBB) January 19, 2022
Mercer will host @FurmanHoops on Jan. 29 inside Hawkins Arena with tip-off slated at 6 p.m. #SoConHoops
Read More 📰: https://t.co/wMw3Epik3u#LetsRoar x #BearNation pic.twitter.com/RY1OONgxU3
SOCON THREE POINT PERCENTAGE LEADERS:
The sharpshooting Felipe Haase and Jalen Johnson are both in the top 10 within the league for three-point field goal proficiency. They are the only two on the list who have both attempted over 110 three pointers respectively on this list, proving just how effective they are from behind the arc.
|
1. |
Joe Anderson – FUR |
SO |
17 |
28 |
58 |
.483 |
|
2. |
Conley Garrison – FUR |
SR |
21 |
50 |
104 |
.481 |
|
3. |
Felipe Haase – MER |
SR |
21 |
52 |
110 |
.473 |
|
4. |
De'Monte Buckingham – UNCG |
SR |
20 |
45 |
100 |
.450 |
|
5. |
Malachi Smith – UTC |
SO |
21 |
43 |
99 |
.434 |
|
6. |
Jake Stephens – VMI |
SR |
21 |
45 |
104 |
.433 |
|
7. |
Jalen Johnson – MER |
SR |
20 |
58 |
135 |
.430 |
SHARING IS CARING: Haase is ranked third in Assist/Turnover Ratio in the Southern Conference.
|
1. |
Alex Hunter-FUR |
SR |
22 |
74 |
3.4 |
25 |
1.1 |
3.0 |
|
2. |
Ryan Larson-WOF |
SR |
21 |
85 |
4.0 |
30 |
1.4 |
2.8 |
|
3. |
Felipe Haase-MER |
SR |
21 |
70 |
3.3 |
34 |
1.6 |
2.1 |
I'LL TAKE THAT:
On the other side of the ball, Haase is ranked 6th in steals per game with 1.5. Leading the Bears in steals on a game in and game out basis. Kamar Robertson is just .1 behind him with 1.4 per game.
|
1. |
Jalen Slawson - FUR |
SR |
22 |
43 |
2.0 |
|
2. |
Max Klesmit - WOF |
SO |
20 |
36 |
1.8 |
|
3. |
Malachi Smith - UTC |
SO |
21 |
37 |
1.8 |
|
4. |
David Sloan - ETSU |
SR |
22 |
38 |
1.7 |
|
5. |
Kobe Langley - UNCG |
JR |
20 |
32 |
1.6 |
|
6. |
Felipe Haase - MER |
SR |
21 |
31 |
1.5 |
|
7. |
Kamar Robertson - MER |
JR |
19 |
26 |
1.4 |
NOT TODAY:
The Durham, N.C. native and Tennessee/Wake Forest transfer is ranked fifth within the Southern Conference for blocked shots per game. He is the only guard within the top 5.
|
1. |
Stephen Clark - CIT |
JR |
19 |
50 |
2.6 |
|
2. |
Jake Stephens - VMI |
SR |
21 |
45 |
2.1 |
|
3. |
Jalen Slawson - FUR |
SR |
22 |
41 |
1.9 |
|
4. |
Silvio DeSousa - UTC |
SR |
20 |
25 |
1.3 |
|
5. |
Jalen Johnson - MER |
SR |
20 |
22 |
1.1 |
HOME SWEET HOME:
Hawkins Arena has been kind to the Bears in recent years. Each of the past two seasons, Mercer has earned nine wins on their home floor. Below is Mercer's record at home since the 2019-20 campaign. Since the beginning of the Greg Gary era, Mercer is 26-11 at during his current campaign. The Bears are currently undefeated in the conference at home.
Season Record
2019-20 9-6
2020-21 9-4
2021-22 8-1
Total 26-11
UP NEXT: Mercer will host Wofford in Macon as they face the Terrier on Jan. 31 in Hawkins Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. The matchup on Monday can be viewed on ESPNU and can be heard on the Mercer Sports Network (100.9 The Creek, SportsMic) with Rick Cameron on the call.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW | ORANGE OUT! Purchase your 2021-22 season tickets here to watch the Bears in action at Hawkins Arena. The Bears next home game is on Monday, Jan. 31 against the Wofford Terriers at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for this game can be purchased here.
Fans come support the Bears in Hawkins and receive a free orange t-shirt and then get a FREE TACO! Fans you may show up your own orange gear and receive a taco as well!
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.
