Mercer University
16-16,8-10SoCon
Western Carolina University
11-21,5-13SoCon
Bears Earn Solid Win Against Western Carolina
3/4/2022 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Mercer wins, 81-53, in Asheville
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Mercer men's basketball team picked up a dominant 81-53 win over the Western Carolina Catamounts in the first round of the 2022 Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship presented by General Shale Brick to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals.
FINAL SCORE:
The Bears 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐍!
— Mercer Men's Basketball (@MercerMBB) March 5, 2022
All 12 active Bears saw minutes on the court in @harrahsctravl in today's Team Dub‼️#LetsRoar x #BearNation | #LightTheBridge pic.twitter.com/W3N09LYLWz
STATS TO KNOW:
- The Bears shot an outstanding 54.2 percent from the field, including 55.0 percent from behind the 3-point line. Mercer's 55.0 percent outing behind the arc is its second-best this season.
- Mercer out-rebounded Western Carolina 39-31, but the Catamounts outscored the Bears on second-chance points, 10-5.
- The Bears played 12 players and the Mercer bench accounted for 38 points tonight.
2022 Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship
Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville, Asheville, N.C.
Friday, March 4 (ESPN+)
Game 1 - (9) The Citadel 84, (8) ETSU 76
Game 2 - (7) Mercer 81, (10) Western Carolina 53
Saturday, March 5 (ESPN+/Nexstar)
Game 3 - (1) Chattanooga vs. (9) The Citadel, 12 p.m.
Game 4 - (4) Wofford vs. (5) VMI, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 - (2) Furman vs. (7) Mercer, 6 p.m.
Game 6 - (3) Samford vs. (6) UNCG, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 (ESPNU)
Game 7 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 8 - Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, March 7 (ESPN)
Championship game, 7 p.m.
NOTE: All times Eastern. All games to be broadcast on ESPN+, with the championship game also on Nexstar.
QUOTES:
Head coach Greg Gary
On the game
"It all started with our defense. I thought we were tough today early in the first half to set the tone and these guys did a great job in setting the tone. … Shannon (Grant) did a good job and James (Glisson III) as well, getting the ball in to them, those are two guys that can score at the rim. We want to play inside out. That's one of the keys that we put on the board before the game, and I thought our guys did a great job of getting the ball to them and them finishing. It takes a couple of things. Our ball movement, player movement, and get in rotations make it hard for them to double, so our guys did a great job with moving the basketball and our post guys did a great job of posting up strong."
Junior guard Kamar Robertson
On his performance tonight
"I feel like each game, I've gained more confidence and understanding of what I need to do with leading everybody and I feel that coming into that role has been much easier with my teammates accepting it and always being there for me. Anytime I do something wrong, they always hold me accountable, which is good."
Redshirt senior forward Felipe Haase
On the development of Shannon Grant
"I have to guard him every practice. I mean it's really, really tiring. But he's learning. He's more into it, he's doing his job and he's picking it up very well. He's taking his maturity to the next level. It's uncomfortable to be guarding him. He just has to be more consistent with his job. When he does it, he's really efficient."
UP NEXT:
The No. 7 Bears will battle No. 2 Furman at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can watch live on select Nexstar affiliates and ESPN+. Fans wishing to tune into the radio broadcast may listen to Rick Cameron on the Mercer Sports Network – 100.9 The Creek and SportsMic.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW:
Purchase your 2022 SoCon Tournament tickets HERE to watch the Bears in action in Asheville, N.C. on Saturday, March 5th at 6:00 p.m.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of Mercer Men's 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.
