Bears Drop Tough Road Contest to Mocs, 77-68

Saturday, February 5

Chattanooga, Tenn.

NOON

Mercer University

13-11,6-5SoCon

Chattanooga

19-5,9-2SoCon

Mercer

Chattanooga

2/5/2022 2:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Bears back in Hawkins on Feb. 7 with tip-off at 7 P.M.

By: Bryce Coon + Jake List

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.- The Mercer Bears (13-11, 6-5 SoCon) dropped a tough road contest on Saturday, Feb. 5to the Chattanooga Mocs (19-5, 9-2 SoCon), 77-68. The Bears will come back home to host Chattanooga on Monday, Feb. with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.

Both teams came out firing from all over the court, as the Bears jumped out to an early 10-8 lead. After trading baskets, Mercer stretched the lead to five with a mid-range jumper from the junior guard Kamar Robertson. The Mocs used an 8-3 run to battle back and tie the game at 25 with 5:56 remaining in the first half.

Mercer would control the remainder of the first as Felipe Haase scored six points down the stretch to give the Bears a 36-32 half-time lead.

Coming out of the break, the Mocs used a 10-5 run to retake the lead 42-41 at the 16:12 mark. Both teams then traded baskets as the Mocs used the three-ball to hold off the Bears through the early portion of the second half.

After a made layup from Shawn Walker Jr. the Bears cut the deficit to one, Chattanooga used back-to-back three-pointers to stretch the lead to 67-62 with 4:05 remaining. Coming off a Mercer timeout, the Mocs continued their run with a layup to extend the lead to seven. In his first game back in over two months, guard Neftali Alvarez used an acrobatic move to get to the basket, cutting the deficit back down to five.

With 2:37 remaining and a seven-point deficit, forward Jalen Johnson converted both opportunities at the free throw line. However, the Mocs answered right back with a tough lay in. Chattanooga would then force a turnover and covert on the other end, stretching their lead to 77-66. The Bears answered with a quick basket but would ultimately fall short down the stretch.

NOTABLES:
- Johnson led the Bears in points, finishing with 21 points. He would also chip in with four rebounds and two steals.
- James Glisson III finished with a team-high seven rebounds and contributed six points and two blocks.
- Haase notched 17 points and four rebounds
- Kamar Robertson added ten points and three rebounds

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Alvarez Returns
- Haase Three

FINAL:

2H | Final in McKenzie Arena #LetsRoar x #BearNation pic.twitter.com/Y0N6SLTz1c
— Mercer Men's Basketball (@MercerMBB) February 5, 2022

UP NEXT:
The Bears and the Mocs will face-off again, as Mercer will host Chattanooga on Monday, February 7th. Tip-off is set for 7 P.M. and the game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on the Mercer Sports Network (100.9 The Creek, SportsMic) 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 Monday, Feb. 7 against the Chattanooga Mocs 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.