Thursday, February 10
Lexington, VA
7:00 PM
Mercer University
13-13,6-7SoCon
79
at
85
VMI
15-10,8-5SoCon
1
2
F
Mercer
34
45
79
VMI
40
45
85
Photo by: Randall K. Wolf / VMI
Mercer Falls in Tough Battle with VMI, 85-79
2/10/2022 9:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bears lose a close one in Cameron Hall
LEXINGTON, Va.- The Mercer Bears (13-13, 6-7 SoCon) fell in a tough contest on the road to the VMI Keydets (15-10, 8-5 SoCon) on Thursday night, 85-79.
After a quick early basket from the Keydets, the Bears answered right back with four points of their own. Kamar Robertson drove the lane for a nice lay-in. To follow, Jalen Johnson knocked down two free throws after being fouled. Both teams battled through the first two media timeouts, as both defenses established themselves with a 13-13 score.
Trading baskets, VMI found some breathing room with a deep-three. However, Felipe Haase joined in on the action with a mid-range jumper to cut the lead to 21-20 at the 7:17 mark.
The Bears found an offensive rhythm, knocking down their next four shots. VMI was able to answer with opportunities at the free throw line to keep it tied at 28 apiece. The Keydets found some success on the offensive side, hitting their next three shots to take a 33-32 at the 3:05 mark.
The Keydets continued their hot run heading into the break with a 7-0 run to hold a 40-34 advantage at the half.
The Keydets opened the second half on fire from the field, stretching their lead to 52-43 through the first five minutes. After a quick basket from Robertson, VMI converted on its eleventh three-pointer of the night to extend the lead to 10, 55-45.
Trailing by double digits, the Bears used three straight three-pointers from James Glisson III to close the gap to four. Robertson then added two free throws to close it two, 60-58.
VMI leaned on its interior offense to stretch it back out to a five-point lead, 65-60. However, both teams were in a cold spell offensively as neither team could find the bottom of the net for the next two minutes.
Glisson III helped the Bears break the drought with his fifth three-pointer to make it 65-63, VMI would answer quickly with a layup to bring it back to a four-point advantage, 67-63. The Keydets would then convert a three-point play to extend their lead to seven, 70-63.
VMI would hit yet another contested three, going on an 8-0 run to go back up by double digits. The Bears battled back though, as the Mercer defense held VMI scoreless for over three minutes to close the deficit to five, at 74-69. After hitting one of two free throws, VMI stretched the lead back out to six and forced a Mercer turnover with 1:31 remaining. The Keydets would then connect on their 15th three-pointer to extend the lead to 78-69.
After a shooting foul from beyond the arc, Johnson knocked down all three free throws to close it to 78-72.
Nevertheless, VMI knocked down a mid-range jumper on the opposite end to stretch it back to eight. The Keydets would hold off a final attempt from the Bears to hand Mercer its seventh conference loss.
FINAL SCORE:
- Shawn Walker Jr.: 18 pts, a season high, two rebounds and two assists
- Felipe Haase: 12 pts, ten rebounds and two assists
- Jalen Johnson: 10 pts, seven rebounds and four blocks
HIGHLIGHTS:
- GLISSON III'S THREE
- JONE'S THREE
- JOHNSON DUNK
- WALKER JR. JUMPER
UP NEXT:
The Bears will continue their road trip as they travel to Greensboro to face UNCG on Sunday, February 13th. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. ET and can be streamed on ESPN+ or heard on the Mercer Sports Network with Rick Cameron on the call.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: Purchase your 2021-22 season tickets here to watch the Bears in action at Hawkins Arena. The Bears' next home game is on Wednesday, Feb. 16 against ETSU at 7 p.m.
Tickets for this game can be purchased 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.
After a quick early basket from the Keydets, the Bears answered right back with four points of their own. Kamar Robertson drove the lane for a nice lay-in. To follow, Jalen Johnson knocked down two free throws after being fouled. Both teams battled through the first two media timeouts, as both defenses established themselves with a 13-13 score.
Trading baskets, VMI found some breathing room with a deep-three. However, Felipe Haase joined in on the action with a mid-range jumper to cut the lead to 21-20 at the 7:17 mark.
The Bears found an offensive rhythm, knocking down their next four shots. VMI was able to answer with opportunities at the free throw line to keep it tied at 28 apiece. The Keydets found some success on the offensive side, hitting their next three shots to take a 33-32 at the 3:05 mark.
The Keydets continued their hot run heading into the break with a 7-0 run to hold a 40-34 advantage at the half.
The Keydets opened the second half on fire from the field, stretching their lead to 52-43 through the first five minutes. After a quick basket from Robertson, VMI converted on its eleventh three-pointer of the night to extend the lead to 10, 55-45.
Trailing by double digits, the Bears used three straight three-pointers from James Glisson III to close the gap to four. Robertson then added two free throws to close it two, 60-58.
VMI leaned on its interior offense to stretch it back out to a five-point lead, 65-60. However, both teams were in a cold spell offensively as neither team could find the bottom of the net for the next two minutes.
Glisson III helped the Bears break the drought with his fifth three-pointer to make it 65-63, VMI would answer quickly with a layup to bring it back to a four-point advantage, 67-63. The Keydets would then convert a three-point play to extend their lead to seven, 70-63.
VMI would hit yet another contested three, going on an 8-0 run to go back up by double digits. The Bears battled back though, as the Mercer defense held VMI scoreless for over three minutes to close the deficit to five, at 74-69. After hitting one of two free throws, VMI stretched the lead back out to six and forced a Mercer turnover with 1:31 remaining. The Keydets would then connect on their 15th three-pointer to extend the lead to 78-69.
After a shooting foul from beyond the arc, Johnson knocked down all three free throws to close it to 78-72.
Nevertheless, VMI knocked down a mid-range jumper on the opposite end to stretch it back to eight. The Keydets would hold off a final attempt from the Bears to hand Mercer its seventh conference loss.
FINAL SCORE:
2H | Final in Lexington, Va.
— Mercer Men's Basketball (@MercerMBB) February 11, 2022
🐻 @ptb_walk: Sets a new season high with 18 points. #LetsRoar x #BearNation pic.twitter.com/QDO6p1VDMl
MERCER STANDOUTS:- James Glisson III: 17 pts, six rebounds and two assists
- Shawn Walker Jr.: 18 pts, a season high, two rebounds and two assists
- Felipe Haase: 12 pts, ten rebounds and two assists
- Jalen Johnson: 10 pts, seven rebounds and four blocks
HIGHLIGHTS:
- GLISSON III'S THREE
- JONE'S THREE
- JOHNSON DUNK
- WALKER JR. JUMPER
UP NEXT:
The Bears will continue their road trip as they travel to Greensboro to face UNCG on Sunday, February 13th. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. ET and can be streamed on ESPN+ or heard on the Mercer Sports Network with Rick Cameron on the call.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: Purchase your 2021-22 season tickets here to watch the Bears in action at Hawkins Arena. The Bears' next home game is on Wednesday, Feb. 16 against ETSU at 7 p.m.
Tickets for this game can be purchased 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.
Team Stats
Mercer
VMI
FG%
.444
.481
3FG%
.370
.469
FT%
.929
.769
RB
36
31
TO
11
11
STL
4
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
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