Bears Comeback To Win OT Thriller Over Jacksonville, 90-89

Monday, November 25

Fort Myers, Fla.

1:30 p.m.

Mercer University

3-3,0-0SoCon

Jacksonville

3-3,0-0ASUN

OT 1

Mercer

Jacksonville

Bears Comeback To Win OT Thriller Over Jacksonville, 90-89

11/25/2024 7:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Bears advance to championship game on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. against Miami (OH)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Freshman Brady Shoulders knocked made a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation and Tyler Johnson made four pressure free throws in overtime as the Mercer Bears overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Jacksonville, 90-89 in overtime on Monday afternoon in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament.

With Mercer trailing, 74-71 in the final seconds of regulation, Shoulders connected on a three-pointer in the corner to tie the game with five seconds to play to force overtime. Shoulders finished with a career high 13 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.

Ahmad Robinson led all players with 25 points on 9-of-15 (60%) shooting and all five Mercer starters scored in double figures on the day. Tyler Johnson added 18 points with five rebounds and went 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final 15 seconds of overtime to ice the game.

Mercer shot 36-of-62 (58%) from the field to Jacksonville's 32-of-72 (44%). The Bears continued to make shots at a high clip in overtime, going 5-for-6 (83%) from the field in the five minute overtime period.

With the win, Mercer advances to the championship game on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. against Miami (OH).

THE BASICS
SCORE: Mercer 90, Jacksonville 89 (F/OT)
RECORDS: Mercer 3-3 (0-0 SoCon); Jacksonville 3-3 (0-0 ASUN)
LOCATION: Fort Myers, FL (Suncoast Credit Union Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
A jumper from Angel Montas Jr. put the Bears up 7-5 less than five minutes into the game. Jacksonville would take a slim lead at 19-15 following a jumper from Johnson. Then, the Dolphins went on a 9-2 run to take at the time, their largest lead of the game at 28-17 with more than seven minutes to go in the first half. Robinson made a step-back three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer and the Bears trailed 40-30 at halftime.

2ND HALF
The Bears got off to a bit of a slow start to begin the second half as Jacksonville went on an 8-2 run in the opening minutes of the half to take its largest lead of the game at 48-32 not even three minutes into the second half. Mercer answered right back with an 8-0 run to make it a 48-40 game in which Robinson and Cam Bryant combined for all eight of the points for the Bears.

The Bears made it a one-possession game at 55-53 with a little more than 10 minutes to play in regulation after a layup and free throw from Shoulders. The Dolphins regained some breathing room as they went back up by 10 points at 64-54 with eight minutes to go. A jumper from Robinson gave Mercer its first lead of the second half at 67-66 with more than two minutes to play. Jacksonville led 73-71 with 13 seconds to play and proceeded to go 1-for-2 at the free throw line to make it a 74-71 game. The Bears quickly pushed the ball up the floor, swung the ball to Shoulders in the corner and he drained the three-pointer to tie the game with five seconds to play. Jacksonville missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

OVERTIME
The overtime period was tightly contested throughout. Neither team led by more than two points over the first four minutes of overtime. Trailing 84-83 with a little more than one minute to go in overtime, Robinson made a three-pointer to put the Bears up 86-84. Jacksonville had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead but Johnson stripped Jacksonville's Robert McCray V and the Dolphins eventually fouled Johnson with 13 seconds to go in overtime. Johnson made both free throws to put Mercer up 88-84. After a quick layup by Jacksonville, Johnson was fouled with four seconds to play and once again made both free throws to make it a 90-86 game to seal the win for the Bears.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer shot 58.1 percent from the field - it's second best field goal percentage in a game this season.
+ The win is Mercer's first away from home on the season.
+ Freshman Brady Shoulders had career highs in points (13), rebounds (7), assists (3), and steals (2).
+ Ahmad Robinson's 25 points were a season high and four points short of his career high.
+ Alex Holt was one rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.
+ Jacksonville had 16 turnovers in which the Bears scored 25 points off of.

UP NEXT
Mercer advances to the Fort Myers Tip Off championship game on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. against Miami (OH).

STAY CONNECTED
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