Mercer Succumbs to Furman Second-Half Comeback

Saturday, March 4

Asheville, N.C.

12 p.m.

Mercer University

14-19,6-12SoCon

Furman University

25-7,15-3SoCon

Mercer

Furman

Mercer Succumbs to Furman Second-Half Comeback

3/4/2023 5:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Bears finish the season 14-19, 6-12

By: Amanda Cover

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Mercer men's basketball program fell in the Quarterfinals of the Southern Conference Tournament to Furman, 73-58, on Saturday afternoon, concluding the season for the Bears. Mercer finished 14-19 overall and 6-12 in the SoCon.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Furman scored first, but back-to-back scores by the Bears grabbed an 8-7 lead for Mercer at the first media timeout. The Paladins added consecutive baskets but did not create much distance on the score line as a jumper by Kamar Robertson at 10:47 gave Mercer another lead, 15-14. Furman then committed a turnover on the next possession, allowing Shannon Grant to score to extend the lead to three for the Bears.

The Paladins posted a 6-0 run to take a six-point lead with 7:25 on the clock. Mercer stole the momentum and went on a 13-4 run to end the first half with a three-point lead, 32-29.

It was a tale of two halves as Furman opened the second period with a full-court press on defense. Mercer battled every possession to get up court but surrendered five early turnovers, allowing the Paladins to retake the lead. Furman scored 22 points to Mercer's four in the first eight minutes.

After a Jah Quinones jumper, the Paladins went on a 10-2 run to extend the lead to 21 points. Furman closed out the postseason game with a 73-58 win.

BY THE NUMBERS
Although Mercer took 10 more shots from the field than Furman, the Paladins achieved greater accuracy finishing 49% (23-of-47) compared to Mercer's 37% (21-of-57). The Paladins posted continued success from distance, scoring 9-of-24 (38%) from beyond the arc contrasting the Bears' 3-of-23 (13%).

Mercer shot above 90% from the free throw line for the first time since January 2022, finishing 13-of-14 (93%). The Bears scored 34 of 58 points in the paint while the Paladins recorded only 26 points in the paint.

The Bears won the rebounding battle, 37-29, including 16 offensive boards. Furman scored 24 points off 16 Mercer turnovers while the Bears only converted 10 points off 11 turnovers by the Paladins.

Jalyn McCreary was the lone player in double figures for the Bears with 18 points. He scored six from the charity stripe which was a season high and one shy of a career high. James Glisson III snagged a team-high and season-high eight rebounds along with eight points.

Mercer held SoCon Player of the Year Jalen Slawson to only three points in the first half and SoCon All-First Team honoree Mike Bothwell to just six points in the first half. The duo finished with 25 points combined while JP Pegues led the Paladins with 22 points.

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.