Second Half Comeback Falls Short in 66-63 Defeat to Kennesaw State

Friday, December 2

Macon, Ga.

7 PM

Mercer University

4-5,0-0SoCon

Kennesaw State University

5-3,0-0ASUN

Kennesaw St.

Mercer

Second Half Comeback Falls Short in 66-63 Defeat to Kennesaw State

12/2/2022 11:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Kennesaw State used 18-0 run to close first half

MACON, Ga. - Kennesaw State used an 18-0 run to close out the first half and held on for a 66-63 win over Mercer on Friday night at Hawkins Arena.

Luis Hurtado Jr. had a double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Shawn Walker Jr. led the Bears in scoring with 16 points.

Mercer shot 50 percent from the floor (25-for-50), but had 16 turnovers to Kennesaw State's nine as the Bears were outscored 13-4 in points off turnovers.

Despite leading or tied for the first 15 minutes of the first half, the offense went cold and did not score over the final five minutes of the first half and the Bears found themselves down 10 at halftime.

Each team shot 48 percent from the field and was 3-for-7 from three-point range in the first half.

In the second half, Mercer found itself down by as many as 15 points. The Bears would then go on a 14-3 run, which included seven straight points from Hurtado Jr. to cut Kennesaw State's lead to 55-51 with under seven minutes to play.

Bears are on a 13-3 run and Hawkins is getting LOUD!#LetsRoar || #BearNation pic.twitter.com/YH36zGowOK
— Mercer Men's Basketball (@MercerMBB) December 3, 2022

From there, the Bears slowly chipped away at the Owls' lead. A lay up by Hurtado Jr. made it 64-63 with eight seconds left. After two Kennesaw State free throws, the Bears had a chance to send the game to overtime, but Kamar Robertson's three-point attempt wouldn't go and Kennesaw State escaped with the win.

UP NEXT: Mercer welcomes Middle Georgia State to Hawkins Arena for an 11 a.m. tip. Tickets can be purchased here.

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