Wednesday, January 4
Macon, Ga.
7 PM
Mercer University
7-9,0-3SoCon
52
vs
53
Wofford College
9-7,1-2SoCon
1
2
F
Wofford
28
25
53
Mercer
27
25
52
Team Stats
WOF
Mercer
FG%
.393
.404
3FG%
.154
.300
FT%
.778
.733
RB
30
35
TO
8
13
STL
5
3
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
Bears Drop Last-Second Finish to Wofford
1/4/2023 10:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bears fall to 7-9 overall, 0-3 SoCon
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer men's basketball program (7-9, 0-3) faced a heartbreaking finish as Wofford (9-7, 1-2) scored with 0.7 seconds left to take the lead. The game ended 53-52 in favor of the Terriers on Wednesday night in Hawkins Arena.
"We need to clean up some offensive execution," head coach Greg Gary said. "In a league like this, towards the last three or four minutes, you have to make shots, and you also have to make stops. I thought we made enough stops. We stuck on 52 for a little bit too long."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game started slow offensively for both teams as the sides went 1-for-8 combined in the first three minutes. The Bears led for over half of the first period, but the lead alternated regularly. This was the sixth game of the season scoring less than 30 points in the first half; Mercer only won two of those six. Wofford had the final basket of the first half, taking a lead into the break, 28-27.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the second half. Neither team took a lead larger than four points the entire game. Mercer started to find some energy thanks to a few electric plays, including a dunk by Jalyn McCreary and a relentless effort in the paint by Luis Hurtado Jr. to earn a bucket and the foul.
With five minutes left in the half, Mercer went on its largest run of the night with six points to take the lead by three. Offensive productivity then slowed as the Bears failed to score after 2:54 on the clock.
A last second jumper by Jackson Paveletzke grabbed the win for the Terriers with only 0.7 seconds left on the clock, and the Bears could not find the basket before the buzzer sounded.
BY THE NUMBERS
Mercer played a solid defensive game as the Bears did not allow any points in transition by the Terriers. Wofford finished 22-of-56 including only 2-of-13 from distance. The Bears held Wofford's leading scorer, B.J. Mack, to only eight points in 31 minutes. Starter Jackson Sivills was held scoreless all game.
Mercer won the rebound battle, claiming 35 compared to Wofford's 30. The Bears also recorded two blocks to Wofford's zero, featuring a thundering effort by David Craig.
"The defense was great," Gary explained "I thought the way we competed, the way we fought was the level it needs to be in every game from here on out."
McCreary posted his ninth game of the season with at least 15 points as he recorded 16 points and four rebounds. Craig led the team in rebounds with six.
UP NEXT: Mercer will travel to Western Carolina for another conference showdown on Saturday, January 7 at 4 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.Â
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"We need to clean up some offensive execution," head coach Greg Gary said. "In a league like this, towards the last three or four minutes, you have to make shots, and you also have to make stops. I thought we made enough stops. We stuck on 52 for a little bit too long."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The game started slow offensively for both teams as the sides went 1-for-8 combined in the first three minutes. The Bears led for over half of the first period, but the lead alternated regularly. This was the sixth game of the season scoring less than 30 points in the first half; Mercer only won two of those six. Wofford had the final basket of the first half, taking a lead into the break, 28-27.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the second half. Neither team took a lead larger than four points the entire game. Mercer started to find some energy thanks to a few electric plays, including a dunk by Jalyn McCreary and a relentless effort in the paint by Luis Hurtado Jr. to earn a bucket and the foul.
With five minutes left in the half, Mercer went on its largest run of the night with six points to take the lead by three. Offensive productivity then slowed as the Bears failed to score after 2:54 on the clock.
A last second jumper by Jackson Paveletzke grabbed the win for the Terriers with only 0.7 seconds left on the clock, and the Bears could not find the basket before the buzzer sounded.
BY THE NUMBERS
Mercer played a solid defensive game as the Bears did not allow any points in transition by the Terriers. Wofford finished 22-of-56 including only 2-of-13 from distance. The Bears held Wofford's leading scorer, B.J. Mack, to only eight points in 31 minutes. Starter Jackson Sivills was held scoreless all game.
Mercer won the rebound battle, claiming 35 compared to Wofford's 30. The Bears also recorded two blocks to Wofford's zero, featuring a thundering effort by David Craig.
"The defense was great," Gary explained "I thought the way we competed, the way we fought was the level it needs to be in every game from here on out."
McCreary posted his ninth game of the season with at least 15 points as he recorded 16 points and four rebounds. Craig led the team in rebounds with six.
UP NEXT: Mercer will travel to Western Carolina for another conference showdown on Saturday, January 7 at 4 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.Â
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