Saturday, January 21
Greensboro, NC
4 PM
Mercer University
9-12,2-6SoCon
48
at
59
UNC Greensboro
13-8,7-1SoCon
1
2
F
Mercer
24
24
48
UNC Greensboro
29
30
59
Team Stats
Mercer
UNCG
FG%
.407
.440
3FG%
.125
.267
FT%
.273
.524
RB
34
34
TO
14
9
STL
2
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
Contested Battle Falls in Favor of UNCG
1/21/2023 7:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bears drop to 9-12 overall, 2-6 SoCon
GREENSBORO, N.C. – It was a close matchup between the two sides, but UNCG emerged with a win, 59-48, over the Mercer men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Bears fall to 9-12 overall and 2-6 in the SoCon while the Spartans improve to 13-8 and 7-1.
"We know they're physical, and we know that that's the way we need to start playing, and that's how we've been playing," head coach Greg Gary said. "It was a grind-it-out game, and I thought our guys did a great job of being physical."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded points for the first three possessions, but UNCG soon recorded a 6-0 run to take a consistent lead. Mercer answered with an 11-3 run in the middle of the first half to take a one-point lead, 19-18.
It stayed a one possession game for the final five minutes as the two sides traded points. A Keyshaun Langley layup in the final minute of the half extended the lead to five points for the Spartans at halftime, 29-24.
UNCG maintained a two-possession lead for the majority of the first ten minutes of the second half. In a frenzy underneath the basket, Jalyn McCreary managed to wrestle the ball away and earn the bucket and a foul. This play was a huge energy booster for the Bears and contributed to a 10-1 run by Mercer to tie the game, 44-44.
With 6:39 left, the Bears only scored four more points, allowing the Spartans to close out the game on a 15-4 run, including six free throws. It finished, 59-48, in favor of UNCG.
BY THE NUMBERS
Although the Bears finished shooting 40.7% on the night, Mercer shot 55% in the first half even while scoring zero three-pointers. It was the second game this season with only one trey recorded for Mercer (vs. Chattanooga, 12/31).
Nine turnovers in the first half, and 14 overall, allowed UNCG more opportunities to score, but the Spartans only logged 13 points off turnovers. UNCG reached the free throw line more often than Mercer, finishing 11-of-21 from the charity stripe compared to the Bears' 3-of-11 line.
"We just missed some free throws," Gary explained. "Little things like that when you're on the road: you have to hit free throws, you can't have 14 turnovers versus their nine; that's five more possessions they're getting, so when you start adding those points up in a close game, that's how you have to win on the road."
The teams finished with 34 rebounds each as Mercer improved in this aspect during the second half. Jah Quinones led the team with a career-high 11 rebounds. Quinones has led the Bears in rebounds three out of the last four games where he set his previous record of eight rebounds, twice.
"They only had 10 offensive [rebounds], and we had 11 offensive," Gary mentioned. "A lot of those we just need to put in, especially when we're not shooting the ball as well, you have to find other ways to score. He [Quinones] finds ways to help us even though he's not scoring right now. When he gets his chance, being able to drive in there and score, he just needs to get some confidence in doing it."
Two players scored in double figures for Mercer as Jalyn McCreary notched 11 points and Shannon Grant finished with 10 points. This was the second game the Bears scored fewer than 50 points this season (at Western Carolina, 1/7/23).
"We need to finish things at the rim," Gary commented. "We had a lot of open shots that we'll knock down, but I loved our fight. We really fought hard and competed."
UP NEXT: The Bears return home to face ETSU for the second time this season on Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m. at Hawkins Arena.
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.Â
Â
"We know they're physical, and we know that that's the way we need to start playing, and that's how we've been playing," head coach Greg Gary said. "It was a grind-it-out game, and I thought our guys did a great job of being physical."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams traded points for the first three possessions, but UNCG soon recorded a 6-0 run to take a consistent lead. Mercer answered with an 11-3 run in the middle of the first half to take a one-point lead, 19-18.
It stayed a one possession game for the final five minutes as the two sides traded points. A Keyshaun Langley layup in the final minute of the half extended the lead to five points for the Spartans at halftime, 29-24.
UNCG maintained a two-possession lead for the majority of the first ten minutes of the second half. In a frenzy underneath the basket, Jalyn McCreary managed to wrestle the ball away and earn the bucket and a foul. This play was a huge energy booster for the Bears and contributed to a 10-1 run by Mercer to tie the game, 44-44.
With 6:39 left, the Bears only scored four more points, allowing the Spartans to close out the game on a 15-4 run, including six free throws. It finished, 59-48, in favor of UNCG.
BY THE NUMBERS
Although the Bears finished shooting 40.7% on the night, Mercer shot 55% in the first half even while scoring zero three-pointers. It was the second game this season with only one trey recorded for Mercer (vs. Chattanooga, 12/31).
Nine turnovers in the first half, and 14 overall, allowed UNCG more opportunities to score, but the Spartans only logged 13 points off turnovers. UNCG reached the free throw line more often than Mercer, finishing 11-of-21 from the charity stripe compared to the Bears' 3-of-11 line.
"We just missed some free throws," Gary explained. "Little things like that when you're on the road: you have to hit free throws, you can't have 14 turnovers versus their nine; that's five more possessions they're getting, so when you start adding those points up in a close game, that's how you have to win on the road."
The teams finished with 34 rebounds each as Mercer improved in this aspect during the second half. Jah Quinones led the team with a career-high 11 rebounds. Quinones has led the Bears in rebounds three out of the last four games where he set his previous record of eight rebounds, twice.
"They only had 10 offensive [rebounds], and we had 11 offensive," Gary mentioned. "A lot of those we just need to put in, especially when we're not shooting the ball as well, you have to find other ways to score. He [Quinones] finds ways to help us even though he's not scoring right now. When he gets his chance, being able to drive in there and score, he just needs to get some confidence in doing it."
Two players scored in double figures for Mercer as Jalyn McCreary notched 11 points and Shannon Grant finished with 10 points. This was the second game the Bears scored fewer than 50 points this season (at Western Carolina, 1/7/23).
"We need to finish things at the rim," Gary commented. "We had a lot of open shots that we'll knock down, but I loved our fight. We really fought hard and competed."
UP NEXT: The Bears return home to face ETSU for the second time this season on Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m. at Hawkins Arena.
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.Â
Â
Mercer 38, Citadel 0 | Postgame Press Conference (9/20/25)
Saturday, September 20
Mercer v U.T. Martin VB Highlight Reel: 9/20/2025
Saturday, September 20
Mercer v North Dakota VB Highlight Reel: 9/19/2025
Saturday, September 20
Mercer v West Georgia VB Highlight Reel: 9/18/2025
Friday, September 19
