Mercer Edged By Furman In Final Minute, 74-72

Wednesday, December 31

Greenville, S.C.

Noon

Mercer University

8-6,0-1SoCon

Furman

10-4,1-0SoCon

Mercer

Furman

Mercer Edged By Furman In Final Minute, 74-72

12/31/2025 3:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Baraka Okojie led Mercer with 22 points

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Baraka Okojie led all players with 22 points, but had a game-tying jump shot in the final seconds roll off the rim as Mercer fell to Furman, 74-72 in the SoCon opener for both teams, Wednesday afternoon from Timmons Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

Mercer shot 29-for-70 (41.4%) from the field compared to Furman who went 26-of-59 (44.1%). Both teams shot abover their season average from three-point range as the Bears made 7-of-20 (35.0%) three-pointers and the Paladins made 9-of-23 (39.1%).

The Paladins shot more than twice as many free throws as the Bears (22-9), but made just 59.1 percent of their free throws. Defensively, Mercer had eight blocks to only one for Furman and the Bears had eight steals to just three for the Paladins.

Okojie registered his fourth 20-point game to go with three assists. Armani Mighty finished one bucket shy of a double-double with eight points and 13 rebounds. Brady Shoulders also finished just shy of a double-double as he had nine points, nine rebounds, and five steals.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Furman 74, Mercer 72
RECORDS: Furman (10-4, 1-0 SoCon), Mercer (8-6, 0-1 SoCon)
LOCATION: Greenville, SC (Timmons Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Both teams went back-and-forth in the first few minutes as Brady Shoulders made a layup to give Mercer a 9-8 lead. Furman's Alex Wilkins who led Furman with 20 points on the day, converted a three-pointer to give Furman its largest lead of the first half at 23-14.

Then, the Bears went on a 15-4 run to take at 29-27 lead. An offensive put back by Shoulders gave Mercer a 35-32 lead late in the first half, but the Paladins closed the half by scoring the final four points to take a 36-35 lead into halftime.

2ND HALF
Furman got out to a quick start in the second half as a Wilkins three gave the Paladins a 47-38 lead. A steal and layup from Connor Serven brought Mercer within five at 51-46. Furman would take a 50-52 lead at the under-8 media timeout.

Okojie made a pull-up jumper with 3:27 to play to make it a one-possession game as Furman led 63-61. Mercer trailed 72-69 with 50 seconds to play when Okojie made a cross-court pass to Shoulders in the corner who knocked down the three-pointer to tie the game at 72 with 49 seconds to play. On the following possession, Furman's Wilkins drove to the right side of the paint and made an 8-foot jump shot to give Furman a 74-72 lead with 19 seconds remaining. Following a Mercer timeout with 5.4 seconds to play, Okojie drove to his left and took a 14-foot pull-up jumper just before the buzzer which bounced off the rim and time ran out as Furman held on for the win.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer had eight blocks to just one for Furman. Mighty had a career high five blocks.
+ The Bears shot 35.0 percent from three which was their best shooting percentage from deep in their last seven games.
+ Bench points were 16-2 in favor of Mercer.
+ Mercer had just seven turnovers. It's second fewest all season (5 vs Tennessee).
+ Mighty had a game high 13 rebounds.
+ Brady Shoulders had a game high five steals, tied for his third most steals in a game in his career.

UP NEXT
Mercer will stay on the road and travel to Johnson City, Tennessee to play ETSU on Saturday, Jan. 3. Tip off is set for 4 p.m. inside Freedom Hall Civic Center.

STAY CONNECTED
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