Bears Sweep the Spartans

Sunday, February 13

Greensboro, NC

3:00 PM

Mercer University

14-13,7-7SoCon

UNCG

15-11,7-7SoCon

Mercer

UNC Greensboro

2/13/2022 6:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Mercer defeats UNCG, 73-64, in Greensboro

By: Jake List

GREENSBORO, N.C.- The Mercer men's basketball team enjoyed a big Southern Conference win, 73-64, on Sunday afternoon after holding off a late surge by the Spartans in the second half. The win against UNCG breaks a three-conference game losing streak for the Bears and is Mercer's first win at the Greensboro Coliseum since Mercer's first season in the Southern Conference on January 3, 2015.

Mercer was led by Felipe Haase with a game-high 28 points on five three-pointers. Haase scored 17 of his 28 points in the first half. Off the bench, Shannon Grant post his third double digit scoring game with 12 points inside the paint. Kamar Robertson also scored 11 points with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Mercer moves to 14-13 overall and 7-7 in Southern Conference, as UNCG drops to 15-11 and 7-7 in conference play.

The Spartans were led by Keyshaun Langley with 19 points, who went 6-6 from the free throw line. Mohammed Abdulsalam finished the game with 11 points and 5 rebounds, while Kaleb Hunter and Bas Leyte added 8 points each.

After trading baskets for much of the first half, Haase made 3-pointer with 8:41 remaining to give Mercer a 21-15 lead. Haase continued his strong first half performance by scoring on Mercer next four of seven possessions and extends Mercer's led to 34-25.

Mercer's 6-10 sophomore, Shannon Grant, would give the Bears the halftime lead of 38-25 after scoring on consecutive possession with under 2 minutes left in the first half.

After a layup by UNCG's Abdulsalam to start the second half, the Bears went on a 7-1 run to give Mercer an 18-point lead, their largest lead of the game, with 16:46 remaining. UNCG would cut the lead to eleven after Leyte and Langley would score a combined 8 points and the Bears went on a 2:39 scoring drought.

Robertson broke the Bears scoring drought with 14:25 remaining in the second half after he was fouled on a made layup and connected on the free throw to give the Bears 48-34 lead.

With under 10 minutes left in the game, the Spartans defense came alive and held Mercer to only 3 points for the next 4 minutes while scoring 9 points. After a Mercer turnover, Langley made a three pointer to cut the lead to 6 with just over 5 minutes remaining in the game.

Mercer would go on a 6-0 run over the next 2 minutes to run take a 14-point lead. Langley, UNCG's guard, scored 9 straight points for the Spartans, but it wasn't enough to beat the Bears. Mercer would hold off UNCG to claim a 73-64 victory.

FINAL SCORE:

2H | @CoachGregGary Earns an early birthday present as the Bears snap UNCG's streak and sweep the Spartans on the season in Greensboro‼️#LetsRoar x #BearNation | #LightTheBridge pic.twitter.com/7fsJyL9LbA
— Mercer Men's Basketball (@MercerMBB) February 13, 2022

MERCER STANDOUTS:

- Felipe Haase: 28 Points goes 9 for 14 from the field and 3-5 3PT
- Shannon Grant: 12 Points in 6-7 FG Shooting
- Shawn Walker Jr.: 6 points in 3-3 Shooting.
- Kamar Robertson: 11 Points in 4-8 shooting.

HIGHLIGHTS:
- HAASE'S THREE
- GRANT PAINT WORK
- JOHNSON DUNK

UP NEXT:
The Bears will go back home to face ETSU on Wednesday, February 16th. Tip-off is set for 7:00 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.