Mercer Ousted In Season Opener 76-61 At No. 18 Tennessee

Monday, November 3

Knoxville, Tenn.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

0-1,0-0SoCon

#17 Tennessee

1-0,0-0SEC

Mercer

Tennessee

Mercer Ousted In Season Opener 76-61 At No. 18 Tennessee

11/3/2025 11:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Baraka Okojie led Mercer with 15 points

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Baraka Okojie led Mercer with 15 points and Brady Shoulders had an game-high six steals, but the Mercer Bears fell on the road to No. 18 Tennessee, 76-61 in the season opener Monday night in Knoxville.

Mercer went 20-for-67 for 30 percent from the field compared to Tennessee's 30-of-61 for 49 percent. Tennessee used its size to its advantage outrebounding the Bears, 54-32. Second chance points were 19-9 in favor of the Volunteers.

The Bears did well to disrupt the passing lanes defensively as Mercer ended up with 15 steals compared to just eight for Tennessee. Mercer also did well taking care of the ball committing just five turnovers to 13 for Tennessee.

Okojie led Mercer offensively with 15 points. Armani Might had an efficient night from the floor in his Mercer debut going 7-for-11 from the field for 14 points to go with five rebounds and two blocks. Shoulders had a career high six steals with a team high nine rebounds on the night.

THE BASICS
SCORE: No. 18 Tennessee 76, Mercer 61
RECORDS: No. 18 Tennessee (1-0, 0-0 SEC), Mercer (0-1, 0-0 SoCon)
LOCATION: Knoxville, Tenn. (Food City Center)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Both teams took some time to find their rhythm offensively out of the gate. A layup from Mighty gave Mercer an early 8-4 lead with 14:30 to play in the first half.

Tennessee would then go on a 13-2 run to take a 17-10 lead. Shoulders connected on a 3-pointer to make it a 25-17 lead for the Volunteers with less than five minutes to play in the first half. Mighty closed the first half with a dunk and the Bears went into halftime trailing 33-21.

2ND HALF
Mercer scored the first four points out of the half to cut the deficit to single digits, but Tennessee responded with a 9-2 run to take a 42-27 lead with more than 16 minutes to play.

Tennessee took at the time its biggest lead of the night after a Troy Henderson 3-pointer made it a 52-30 lead for the Volunteers. A three-pointer from Zaire Williams made it a 60-46 game with less than seven minutes to play. The Bears however couldn't continue to cut into the deficit as Tennessee earned the 76-61 win in the season opener for both teams.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer had 15 steals in the game, led by Brady Shoulders' six.
+ The score in the second half was 43-40, Tennessee.
+ Baraka Okojie led Mercer with 15 points.
+ Shoulders led Mercer with nine rebounds.
+ Mercer had just five turnovers on the night.
+ Braeden Carlsen scored his first career points when he knocked down a 3-pointer in the final minute of the game.

UP NEXT
Mercer heads home to gear up for its home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Tip-off from Hawkins Arena is set for 7 p.m.

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