3-Point Shooting Leads Bears to Victory Over VMI

Saturday, February 4

Macon, Ga.

2 PM

Mercer University

12-13,5-7SoCon

Virginia Military Institute

6-19,1-11SoCon

VMI

Mercer

3-Point Shooting Leads Bears to Victory Over VMI

2/4/2023 5:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

A season-high 13 three-pointers

MACON, Ga. – A season-high 13 three-pointers led the Bears to an 80-54 victory over VMI on Saturday afternoon in Hawkins Arena. Braden Sparks led the team from behind the arc with four treys while Harrison Drake and Michael Zanoni had three each. The Bears improve to 12-13 overall and 5-7 in the conference. Mercer also committed only two turnovers, the fewest in program history.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Sparks started the scoring off of a fastbreak play, then had back-to-back threes to put the team up 8-2. Sparks went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc and had five rebounds. Drake followed close behind going 3-for-4 from distance and securing four rebounds.

"They stepped up when their number was called and they had a heck of a game," head coach Greg Gary said. "Braden Sparks did an outstanding job getting us off to a great start and Harrison Drake did as well. I thought those guys gave us a huge boost."

The score stayed close between the teams for the beginning of the first half, and the Keydets led until back-to-back threes from Drake put the Bears up by three. After that, the Bears were able to create some distance on the scoreboard and went on a 26-5 run over nine minutes.

"They are hard to guard because they spread out and they have a lot of guys who can dribble, pass and shoot," Gary said. "I thought we did a good job physically making them uncomfortable and switching at times that made them uncomfortable."

Mercer held the lead throughout the entire second half and only allowed 54 points, the second-fewest points scored against the Bears in conference play this season.

BY THE NUMBERS
The Bears led for 34:10 and by as many as 27 points. The 26-point victory is the second-largest against a Division I opponent this season (27, vs. Morehead State).

After struggling beyond the arc for much of conference play, 13 three-pointers were the most scored since January 13, 2022 against VMI when the Bears scored 17. Sparks and Drake both set career highs in points, field goals made, three-pointers made, and minutes against the Keydets.

McCreary had 22 points along with six offensive rebounds and three steals against the Keydets. Mercer earned nine steals against VMI in both matchups this season. Zanoni was the other player to score in double figures, spearheaded by three treys. The freshman also finished with six rebounds.

While committing a program-best two turnovers, the defense forced 19 turnovers which is the most against a Division I opponent this season. Mercer claimed 21 points off those 19 turnovers while adding 13 second-chance points and nine fast break points. The Bears held VMI's second-leading scorer Sean Conway scoreless as he finished 0-of-5 from the field.

UP NEXT: Mercer wraps up its home stretch against Samford on Wednesday, February 8 at 7 p.m.

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