Mercer Falls On The Road To UCF, 81-63

Wednesday, December 17

Orlando, Fla.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

7-4,0-0SoCon

UCF

9-1,0-0Big 12

Mercer

UCF

12/17/2025 10:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Brady Shoulders tied his career high with 14 points

ORLANDO, Fla. – Brady Shoulders tied his career high with 14 points to lead Mercer offensively, but the Bears dropped an 81-63 game at UCF Wednesday night from Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida.

Despite holding the high scoring UCF offense to its second fewest points scored in a game this season, the Bears were inconsistent from their offensive end as Mercer shot 20-for-53 (37.7%) from the field. The Knights were 30-for-68 (44.1%) from the field.

One factor that played a role in deciding the game was rebounding. The Knights outrebounded the Bears 44-34 and had 17 offensive rebounds to Mercer's nine.

Shoulders tied his career high with 14 points on 5-of-7 (71.4%) shooting. He also played well defensively with six rebounds and three steals. Armani Mighty finished one rebound shy of his sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and nine rebounds. He also had a career high four blocks.

THE BASICS
SCORE: UCF 81, Mercer 63
RECORDS: Clemson (9-1, 0-0 Big 12), Mercer (7-4, 0-0 SoCon)
LOCATION: Orlando, Fla. (Addition Financial Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Mercer fell behind 10-5 early on, but Baraka Okojie made a three-pointer which tied the game at 10 moments later. For about eight minutes in the middle portion of the first half, shots were not falling on the offensive end for the Bears which allowed the Knights to open up a 28-14 lead with just over six minutes to go in the first half.

Connor Serven connected on a three-pointer from the corner in the final seconds of the second half and Mercer went into the half trailing 35-27. Mercer only made eight field goals in the first half, but stayed in the game with its stellar defensive effort in the opening minutes by holding UCF to just 30.0 percent shooting in the half.

2ND HALF
UCF started the second half on a 14-4 run to take a 49-31 lead. A jumper from Okojie followed by a fastbreak layup from Kyle Cuffe Jr. following a steal from Mighty brought Mercer within 14 points at 52-38 with more than 13 minutes to play.

Both sides went back and forth for much of the rest of the second half as a layup by Shoulder made it 67-53, UCF with just under six minutes to play. The Bears would end up suffering their fourth loss of the season to UCF, 81-63.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer held UCF to its second fewest points (81) and second lowest field goal percentage (44.1%) in a game this season.
+ Brady Shoulders tied his career high with 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting (71.4%).
+ Armani Mighty had a career high four blocks.
+ Mercer went 18-for-24 (75.0%) from the free throw line. The 18 made free throws were the fourth most made in a game this season for the Bears.
+ Points off turnovers were close as UCF had an 18-15 edge in that category.

UP NEXT
Mercer heads to out to Pullman, Washington to play Washington State on Saturday, Dec. 20. Tip off is set for 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT inside Beasley Coliseum.

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