Saturday, January 7
Cullowhee, NC
4 PM
Mercer University
7-10,0-4SoCon
45
at
73
Western Carolina University
10-7,3-1SoCon
1
2
F
Mercer
23
22
45
Western Caro.
31
42
73
Team Stats
Mercer
WCU
FG%
.300
.474
3FG%
.154
.429
FT%
.500
.556
RB
30
46
TO
9
10
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
5
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
Second Half Scoring Woes Result in Setback at WCU
1/7/2023 7:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Bears fall to 7-10 overall, 0-4 SoCon
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Despite a positive first 15 minutes, the Mercer men's basketball program fell, 73-45, at Western Carolina on Wednesday night. The Bears fall to 7-10 overall and 0-4 in the conference while the Catamounts improve to 10-7 overall and 3-1 in the conference after winning three-straight in the SoCon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer scored first on a three-pointer from Shawn Walker Jr. and led by at least three points for much of the first 15 minutes. A three-pointer from James Glisson III at 11:26 extended the lead to six points and forced a timeout by Western Carolina.
The Bears held the lead until 3:36 after back-to-back turnovers at midcourt shifted the momentum in the Catamounts' favor. Western Carolina found a shooting rhythm for the final three minutes of the half to lead 31-23 at the break.
"I thought we defended well for that 15 minutes," head coach Greg Gary said. "I felt good about that, but when we start missing shots, then we start not thinking about transition defense."
It was all Western Carolina as soon as the second half started. The Catamounts shot 5-for-10 in the first five minutes of the half to score 13 points compared to the Bears' six. Starting at 15:35, WCU recorded a 10-0 run until Kamar Robertson added two more to the Bears' total at 11:06. Mercer then went on a field goal drought for six minutes, allowing the Catamounts to increase the difference. Western Carolina closed out the game, 73-45.
BY THE NUMBERS
Mercer shot a mere 30% from the field (18-for-60) compared to Western Carolina's 47.4% (27-for-57). The Catamounts executed on shots from distance, sinking 9-of-21 contrasting the Bears' 2-of-13. Walker Jr. led the Bears with 13 points as the only player scoring in double figures.
"We missed a lot of open shots, and that happens, but we need to learn how to play and win games without scoring a lot," Gary added.
The scoring woes for the Bears translated into rebounds for Western Carolina as the Catamounts snagged 46 total rebounds, including 37 on the defensive end. Both teams had 66 possessions.
UP NEXT: Mercer returns home to face Furman on Wednesday, January 11 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
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Mercer scored first on a three-pointer from Shawn Walker Jr. and led by at least three points for much of the first 15 minutes. A three-pointer from James Glisson III at 11:26 extended the lead to six points and forced a timeout by Western Carolina.
The Bears held the lead until 3:36 after back-to-back turnovers at midcourt shifted the momentum in the Catamounts' favor. Western Carolina found a shooting rhythm for the final three minutes of the half to lead 31-23 at the break.
"I thought we defended well for that 15 minutes," head coach Greg Gary said. "I felt good about that, but when we start missing shots, then we start not thinking about transition defense."
It was all Western Carolina as soon as the second half started. The Catamounts shot 5-for-10 in the first five minutes of the half to score 13 points compared to the Bears' six. Starting at 15:35, WCU recorded a 10-0 run until Kamar Robertson added two more to the Bears' total at 11:06. Mercer then went on a field goal drought for six minutes, allowing the Catamounts to increase the difference. Western Carolina closed out the game, 73-45.
BY THE NUMBERS
Mercer shot a mere 30% from the field (18-for-60) compared to Western Carolina's 47.4% (27-for-57). The Catamounts executed on shots from distance, sinking 9-of-21 contrasting the Bears' 2-of-13. Walker Jr. led the Bears with 13 points as the only player scoring in double figures.
"We missed a lot of open shots, and that happens, but we need to learn how to play and win games without scoring a lot," Gary added.
The scoring woes for the Bears translated into rebounds for Western Carolina as the Catamounts snagged 46 total rebounds, including 37 on the defensive end. Both teams had 66 possessions.
UP NEXT: Mercer returns home to face Furman on Wednesday, January 11 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
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