Bears Edge Stetson In Overtime, 89-83

Sunday, December 8

DeLand, Fla.

3 p.m.

Mercer University

5-4,0-0SoCon

Stetson

1-8,0-0ASUN

OT 1

Mercer

Stetson

12/8/2024 6:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Alex Holt matched his career high with 23 points

DeLand, Fla. – Tyler Johnson scored 26 points and Alex Holt matched his career high with 23 points to power Mercer past Stetson in overtime, 89-83 Sunday afternoon from Edmunds Center in DeLand, Florida.

It was a close game throughout most of the 40 minutes of regulation as the Bears and Hatters needed an extra five minutes to decide the outcome. Mercer outscored Stetson, 16-10 in overtime. The Bears went 4-for-7 from the field and 6-for-8 from the foul line in overtime to earn the win and move to 5-4 on the season.

Tyler Johnson had his third game of the season with 20+ points as he went 8-of-13 (61.5%) from the field including 6-for-10 from three-point range. Alex Holt had arguably the best game of his career, matching his career high of 23 points on an efficient day from the floor at 10-for-12 (83.3%). He also pulled down seven rebounds with two steals.

Both Mercer and Stetson had similar shooting numbers as the Bears went 30-for-67 (44.8%) from the field and Stetson shot 27-for-63 (42.9%). Each team made 11 three-pointers on the day as well.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Mercer 89, Stetson 83 (OT)
RECORDS: Mercer 5-4 (0-0 SoCon); Stetson, 1-8 (ASUN)
LOCATION: DeLand, FL (Edmunds Center)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Mercer got off to a great start, scoring the first eight points of the game less than three minutes in as Cam Bryant and Johnson each knocked down three-point shots to start. With Mercer leading 14-9, Holt would score the next seven points for the Bears. Johnson and Laurynas Vaistaras followed by connecting on back-to-back three-pointers to close out a 13-2 scoring run for the Bears who took their largest lead of the game at 27-11 with more than 10 minutes to play in the first half.

Stetson closed the gap to four points at 31-27 with five minutes remaining in the first half. The Bears quickly went back up 10 after two free throws from Brady Shoulders. Stetson closed the first half strong and went on an 11-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 38-237. Mercer would take a 40-38 lead into halftime.

2ND HALF
A layup from Holt put the Bears up 51-48 a little over five minutes into the second half. Stetson responded with three consecutive three-pointers for a quick 9-0 spurt to take a 57-51 lead. Back-to-back layups from Johnson tied the game at 66 with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. Stetson led 73-72 with the ball with 37 seconds to play. The Bears got an important defensive stop and Ahmad Robinson quickly went coast-to-coast and got fouled shooting with 1.7 seconds remaining. Robinson made 1-of-2 free throws to force overtime with the score tied,
73-73.

OVERTIME
Stetson made a three-pointer to take a 78-75 lead with just over two minutes to play in overtime. Less than one minute later Robinson walked into a three-pointer at the top of the key to tie the game at 80 with two minutes to play. The Bears locked in on defense the rest of overtime and leading 81-80, Johnson made none bigger than his sixth three-pointer of the game to put the Bears up 84-80 with 34 seconds to play to make it a two-possession game. The next possession, Mercer forced a Stetson turnover and the Bears closed out the game to earn a gritty 89-83 overtime win on the road.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer moves to 3-0 against ASUN teams this season,with its other ASUN wins over Jacksonville and West Georgia.
+ Alex Holt matched his career high with 23 points on 10-for-12 shooting (83.3%).
+ The Bears went 18-for-27 from the free throw line; both season highs in made free throws and attempted free throws.
+ Tyler Johnson matched his season with 26 points.
+ Alex Holt's 10 made field goals were the most made by any Mercer player in a game this season.
+ Mercer made 11 three-pointers marking the sixth game this season with 10 or more made threes.
+ The Bears committed just nine turnovers, making it back-to-back games with less than 10 turnovers.
+ Brady Shoulders led all players with a career high 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT
Mercer returns home next Sunday, Dec. 15 to play Chicago State. Tip off is at 2 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena.

STAY CONNECTED
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