Bears Fall Short At Home To ETSU, 70-68

Wednesday, January 8

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

9-7,2-1SoCon

East Tennessee State

9-7,2-1SoCon

ETSU

Mercer

1/8/2025 9:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Alex Holt led Mercer with 16 points

Macon, Ga. – Alex Holt scored 16 points to go with nine rebounds, but Mercer (9-7, 2-1 SoCon) dropped a 70-68 decision to ETSU (9-7, 2-1 SoCon) at home on Wednesday night from Hawkins Arena.

In a one-possession game in the closing seconds, the Buccaneers got a defensive stop to escape with the win. Mercer went 23-for-53 (43%) from the field to ETSU's 23-for-58 (51%) shooting. Both teams left points at the foul line as Mercer went 15-for-26 (58%) and ETSU 15-23 (65%). The Buccaneers had the advantage on the glass with a 41-31 rebounding edge.

In addition to Holt's 16 points, three other Mercer starters scored in double figures. Tyler Johnson scored 15 points while shooting 3-for-6 from three-point range. Ahmad Robinson had 14 points, seven assists, six rebounds, and five steals. Cam Bryant added 13 points while going 3-for-5 from deep.

THE BASICS
SCORE: ETSU 70, Mercer 68
RECORDS: Mercer 9-7, 2-1 (SoCon); ETSU 9-7, 2-1 (SoCon)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
ETSU took an early 10-5 lead in the opening minutes of the game. Johnson knocked down a jumper to make it a one-point game at 14-13 with the Bucs in front. ETSU stretched its lead to 27-18 with just under eight minutes to play in the first half.

Trailing 29-20, Johnson went on to score eight consecutive points for the Bears who found themselves down 32-28. ETSU's leading scorer in the game, Quimari Peterson made two three-pointers in the final two minutes of the half to give the Bucs a 40-32 lead at halftime.

2ND HALF
Bryant got things going for the Bears to start the second half, scoring the first five points of the half to bring the Bears within three points at 40-37. The Bucs would then go on a 9-3 run to go back up 49-40. Shortly after, Mercer responded with a 7-0 run over a five minute stretch that included some great defense from the Bears to make it a one-possession game again at 50-49.

A fastbreak layup from Jah Nze tied the game at 56 with five minutes to play. After an ETSU bucket gave the Bucs the lead back at 58-56, Mercer went on a 6-0 scoring run capped off by a pair of free throws from Robinson which gave Mercer a 62-58 lead with just over three minutes to play. After ETSU tied the game at 63, an and-one from Holt gave Mercer a 66-63 lead with just under two minutes to play.

With time winding down and trailing, ETSU went to a full-court press and forced two Mercer turnovers resulting in a layup and one free throw which tied the game at 66 with 50 seconds to play. A layup from Nze put the Bears back in front 68-66 with 35 seconds to play. The next possession, Peterson missed a three-pointer but after an offensive rebound, got a second look at a three and made it to put ETSU up 69-68 with 19 seconds to go. Mercer had two more possessions in the closing seconds to tie or take the lead but couldn't convert as ETSU escaped with the win.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer had 11 steals to six for ETSU. Robinson led Mercer with a season high five steals.
+ The loss was Mercer's first home loss of the season as the Bears are now 5-1 at home on the year.
+ Tyler Johnson scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half.
+ After shooting 3-for-5 from three-point range, Cam Bryant is now eight for his last 13 from three-point range.
+ Alex Holt had nine rebounds to with his 16 points. He's brought down at least nine rebounds in four of his last five games.
+ Fastbreak points were 13-6, Mercer.

UP NEXT
Mercer heads back on the road to play Western Carolina in Cullowhee, North Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tip off is at 3:30 p.m. from Ingles Court.

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