Mercer Drops Game On Road To Winthrop, 102-97

Saturday, December 21

Rock Hill, S.C.

2 p.m.

Mercer University

6-6,0-0SoCon

102

Winthrop

10-4,0-0Big South

Mercer

Winthrop

102

Mercer Drops Game On Road To Winthrop, 102-97

12/21/2024 6:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Ahmad Robinson led Mercer with 27 points

Rock Hill, S.C. – In a game with plenty of offense, the Winthrop Eagles outlasted the Mercer Bears 102-97 Saturday afternoon from Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Ahmad Robinson led all players with 27 points, his third game this season with at least 25 points. Mercer shot 34-of-72 (47%) from the field while the Eagles went 31-of-57 (54%) from the floor. Each team made 11 three-pointers as well on the day. The Bears forced Winthrop into 17 turnovers and scored 31 points off them. Mercer's bench also outscored Winthrop's 36-20.

Winthrop led by as much as 14 points midway through the second half, but the Bears were able to get within five points with just under three minutes to play before Winthrop was able to hold on for the win.

Tyler Johnson and Angel Montas Jr. also scored in double figures for the Bears. Johnson had 19 points and went 5-for-9 from deep. Montas had 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Winthrop 102, Mercer 97
RECORDS: Mercer 6-6 (0-0 SoCon); Winthrop 10-3 (Big South)
LOCATION: Rock Hill, S.C. (Winthrop Coliseum)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Winthrop jumped out to a 12-6 lead at the under-16 media timeout. Mercer's offense took a while to get going and Winthrop stretched its lead to 21-11 midway through the first half. Jah Nze made a three-pointer in the corner to make it a 23-16 game. Then, the Bears would only manage to score two points over the next four minute stretch of game action and the Eagles took a 34-18 lead with a little more than five minutes remaining in the first half. With three minutes to go in the half, Mercer trailed 38-25.

The Bears would go on a quick 9-0 run that was highlighted by an alley-oop from Robinson to Cam Bryant, to get within four points at 38-34. Winthrop would go on to take a 44-36 lead into halftime.

2ND HALF
A three-pointer within the first two minutes of the second half from Johnson made it a 45-41 lead for the Eagles. Winthrop responded with an 8-1 run to go back up by 11 at 53-42. The two teams essentially traded baskets for the next five minutes with neither team able to go on a run and Winthrop led 69-59 with just over 11 minutes to go in the game.

The Eagles led 82-68 with less than seven minutes remaining, but the Bears would claw their way back in it. After forcing a Winthrop shot clock violation, Johnson connected on a three-pointer to bring Mercer within five at 85-80 with just under three minutes to play. Winthrop was able to make enough free throws down the stretch to hold off Mercer for the win.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer forced 17 Winthrop turnovers, marking back-to-back games in which the Bears forced 17 turnovers from their opponent.
+ Mercer scored 61 second half points, the second most points in a half this season (66 vs Virginia-Lynchburg).
+ Ahmad Robinson scored 27 points, his third game this season with at least 25 points. It was the most points scored by a Mercer player in a game this season.
+ Mercer attempted 26 free throws, its second most in a game this season (27 at Stetson).
+ Tyler Johnson's five made three-pointers was his sixth game this season with at least four made threes.
+ Angel Montas Jr.'s 17 points was one shy of his season high set in the season opener against Virginia-Lynchburg.
+ Alex Holt finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds.

UP NEXT
Mercer will make the short trip to Atlanta to play Georgia State on Saturday, Dec. 28. Tip-off is at 2 p.m from the GSU Convocation Center.

STAY CONNECTED
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