Mercer University
Virginia University of Lynchburg
Men's Basketball Opens Season Thursday Night Against VU-Lynchburg
11/6/2024 10:26:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Tip-Off is at 7 p.m. from Hawkins Arena
The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+, as well as on the Sportsmic App with veteran Mercer broadcaster Rick Cameron handling the play-by-play duties.
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Thursday's game is 478 Day as fans can purchase tickets for as low as $4.78. Tickets are available and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.
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| ABOUT THE GAME | |
| Date: Thursday, November 7 Time:Â 7Â p.m. ET Location: Macon, Ga. I Hawkins Arena TV:Â ESPN+ Listen Live:Â Sportsmic Network Live Statistics:Â MercerStats.com Twitter Updates:Â @MercerMBB |
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TICKETS Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.  |
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| SEASON PREVIEW The Bears begin the Ryan Ridder era with Thursday's season opener. Ridder, the 30th head coach in program history, comes to Macon from UT Martin, where he led the Skyhawks to the 2023-24 OVC regular season title. Coach Ridder has emphasized all offseason that this year's team will be tough, together, and unselfish. The 2024-25 edition of Mercer men's basketball is comprised of three returners and 11 newcomers. Jah Quinones, Alex Holt and TJ Grant return to Macon for the 2024-25 campaign, having served vital roles for the Bears a year ago. Holt posted the highest single-season shooting percentage in program history last season at 65.6%. Ahmad Robinson transfers in from New Hampshire as a high-level scorer and distributer. A Third Team All-America East selection last season, Robinson scored 15.4 PPG and dished out 4.7 APG for the Wildcats. Laurynas Vaistaras is another proven scorer joining the Bears this season, transferring in from Campbell. The native of Lithuania filled up the stat sheet for the Camels last season, averaging 10.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 3.1 APG. Tyler Johnson arrives in Macon after being named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year last season at Division 2 USC Aiken. Johnson scored 16.7 PPG for the Pacers and led the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance. |
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| SERIES HISTORY | |
| Thursday night is the first all-time meeting between Mercer and VU-Lynchburg. | |
SCOUTING VU-LYNCHBURG |
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| VU-Lynchburg is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The Dragons are in the South region in which 10 teams compete in. Thursday's game will be the second of back-to-back games for the VU-Lynchburg as the Dragons are playing at Norfolk State Wednesday night before making the trip south to Macon. VU-Lynchburg played its season opener last Friday where they lost to Lindsey Wilson College, 99-54. The Dragons' leading scorer in that game was Le'Nijel Robinson who scored 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting. The Dragons shot just 29.7 percent from the field in the loss to Lindsey Wilson. |
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