Bears Fall Short Despite Quinones Career Day

Saturday, February 18

Macon, Ga.

2 PM

Mercer University

12-17,5-11SoCon

Western Carolina University

16-13,9-7SoCon

Western Caro.

Mercer

Jah Quinones jumping while passing the ball

2/18/2023 7:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Freshman went 8-for-8 FG for 19 PTS

By: Amanda Cover

MACON, Ga. – Freshman Jah Quinones scored a career-high 19 points after shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the field, but the Mercer men's basketball program recorded its seventh loss by less than three points this season against Western Carolina, 71-68, on Saturday afternoon in Hawkins Arena.

The Bears drop to 12-17 overall and 5-11 in the SoCon while the Catamounts improve to 16-13 overall and 9-7 in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Western Carolina started slightly better than the Bears as Mercer committed five turnovers in the first six minutes, but the Catamounts did not run away with a lead. Jalyn McCreary scored 12 of the first 20 points for the Bears, helping place Mercer in the lead or tied for over seven minutes.

The Catamounts went on a 9-0 run beginning around the six-minute mark to retake the lead by one point. The teams traded points for the final four minutes, but the Bears had the last word. Inbounding with 1.4 seconds left on the clock, Luis Hurtado Jr. found Kamar Robertson for a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded to give Mercer the lead, 33-31, at halftime.

After scoring two jumpers to start the second half, the Bears went cold and faced a two-minute scoring drought while the Catamounts added seven points. Mercer scored the next five points to retake the lead by two. Western Carolina then posted a 15-6 scoring run to take its largest lead of the game of seven points.

Quinones scored eight of the next 12 points for the Bears to get back within one. Mercer could not quite flip the score line in its favor as the Catamounts went on another 6-0 scoring run to extend the lead back to seven. With 19 seconds remaining, Quinones scored a layup to cut WCU's lead to three, 69-66.

Mercer fouled Russell Jones Jr. to stop the clock at 16 seconds. Jones Jr. missed his first free throw, but made the second. On Mercer's next possession, WCU's Vonterius Woolbright fouled Robertson, but the senior scored both of his free throws to make it 70-68 in favor of Western Carolina.

The Bears fouled Tre Jackson instantly to stop the clock again. Jackson made his first free throw but missed his second, and James Glisson III recovered the rebound. Quinones drove it up the court and passed it to Glisson III who found Braden Sparks open in the corner, but Sparks' three-point attempt bounced off the rim. Western Carolina escaped with a win, 71-68.

BY THE NUMBERS
Mercer shot 50% (29-of-58) from the field and 36% (4-of-11) from distance. This was only the second conference game the Bears shot 50% or better and the first since the conference opener against Samford on December 28. Western Carolina shot 43% (23-of-54) from the field and 36% (4-of-11) from beyond the arc. The Catamounts had a significant boost from the charity stripe, finishing 21-of-24 (88%) compared to Mercer's 6-of-9 (67%).

The Bears won the battle on the boards, 33-30. Mercer's bench also excelled, scoring 41 of the Bears' 68 points. Quinones led the team with his career-best 19 points off the bench. The freshman only missed one shot all game, coming at the free throw line (1-of-2), while scoring all eight attempts from the field. Quinones also snagged a team-leading six rebounds.

McCreary finished with 18 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Kamar Robertson also scored in double figures with 11 points. Glisson III and David Craig each grabbed five rebounds while Hurtado Jr. recorded a team-high four assists.

The Catamounts had four players score in double figures, and Tyzhaun Claude earned a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT: Mercer will play its final road game of the season on Wednesday, February 22 at 7 p.m. against Furman.

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.