Bears Come Up Short in Cullowhee

Saturday, February 19

Cullowhee, N.C.

2:00 PM

Mercer University

15-14,8-8SoCon

Western Carolina

10-19,4-12SoCon

Mercer

Western Caro.

Photo by: Laura Cooper / WCU

2/19/2022 5:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Mercer loses to Western Carolina, 69-65, in the Ramsey Center

CULLOWHEE N.C. - The Mercer men's basketball team came up short against Western Carolina, 69-65, in its loss at the Ramsey Center on Saturday afternoon. Mercer held the lead for 34 minutes in Cullowhee before WCU won in a game of back-and-forth free throws in the final minutes.

The Bears move to 15-14 overall and 8-8 in the Southern Conference, while the Catamounts move to 10-19 overall and 4-12 in conference play.

Mercer saw two Bears score in double figures. Felipe Haase and Jalen Johnson both finished the afternoon with 16 points. Off the bench, Shannon Grant provided Mercer with 4 points while pulling down six rebounds. Jovan Tucker also contributed off the bench with 5 points and going 50% from the field.

It was a fast start for the Bears. At the first media timeout, Mercer held the early lead at 7-0 with baskets from James Glisson III and two from Haase.

Johnson would keep up the game's momentum by scoring Mercer's next seven points. After a Mercer hot start, WCU slowly climbed back into the game with plays like Marlow Gilmore scoring off an Alley Oop to put the Catamounts closer 23-12. On the following two Mercer possessions Walker Jr. would convert a free throw and Haase would connect on his jumper to pull away in Cullowhee 26-12 with 9:17 remaining in the first half.

The Bears and Catamounts battled back and forth for the next couple minutes. WCU's Vonterius Woolbright made a lay-in to bring the Catamounts within 10, right before freshman Jordan Jones answered with a three pointer. However, Cameron Bacote answered by knocking down a three of his own before the under 8-minute media timeout.

Coming out of the media timeout, WCU would go on a run and cut the Orange and Black lead to 5 with a three from Marcus Banks. The Bears answered right away with a lay in by Johnson to bring it back up to seven, 31-24.

WCU's Gilmore and Woolbright wouldn't make it easy for the Bears' defense as Western Caroline chipped away and brought the game to just a two-point deferential over the next four minutes, 31-29 with 2:54 remaining.

Mercer would continue to battle for the rest of the first half, but the only points left for the Bears would come from two free throws by Glisson III. Nevertheless, that was enough for Mercer to go into halftime with a four-point lead, 33-29.

The back-and-forth battle didn't stop there. Entering in the second half, Jordan Jones scored the bears first five points and Jalen Johnson went 5-5 from the line to separate themselves from the Catamounts. After that, Jovan Tucker and Glisson III were able to tally points down low. Western Carolina answered with Marvin Price and Tyler Harris drives to the hoop.

During Mercer's next few possessions Haase, Glisson III and Grant would become our main offensive targets down low. They combined for 28 points on the game.

The Catamounts speed and play in transition allowed them to claw back and tie the game at 56-56 with 6:38 remaining, but the Bears' free throws kept them alive at 64-60. From there, Woolbright took over the show and closed out the game. After trading free throws for the last two minutes of the game, Western Carolina was able to pull away in the final minutes giving them their fourth conference win on the season after a 69-65 victory in Cullowhee.

FINAL SCORE:

2H | Final in Cullowhee #LetsRoar x #BearNation pic.twitter.com/Dci8FXHpCm
— Mercer Men's Basketball (@MercerMBB) February 19, 2022

MERCER STANDOUTS:

- Felipe Haase: 16 Points and 6-7 FT
- Jalen Johnson: 16 Points and 5-5 FT.
- Shannon Grant: 4 Points and 6 Rebs.
- Shawn Walker Jr.: 7 Points and 5-7 FT

HIGHLIGHTS:
- JONES' THREE
- GLISSON III' DUNK
- TUCKER'S THREE

UP NEXT:
The Bears are set to host in Macon to match up against The Citadel on Wednesday, Feb. 23 in Hawkins Arena. Tip-off against the Bulldogs 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 | SENIOR NIGHT:
The Bears' next home game is Senior Night on Wednesday, Feb. 23 against The Citadel 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.