Mercer Falls On The Road To Samford

Wednesday, February 5

Birmingham, Ala.

7:30 p.m. ET

Mercer University

11-13,4-7SoCon

100

Samford

19-5,9-2SoCon

Mercer

Samford

100

2/5/2025 10:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Tyler Johnson led all scorers with 26 points

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.. – Tyler Johnson led all scorers with 26 points, but the Mercer Bears fell on the road to Samford, 100-79 Wednesday night from the Pete Hanna Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

Both teams shot the ball well from the floor as Mercer went 29-for-65 (45%) from the field and Samford 36-of-83 (43%). The Bulldogs attempted 50 three-point shots making 22 of them for a 44 percent clip. Mercer went 9-for-24 from deep (38%). Each team got after the offensive glass as Mercer had 18 offensive rebounds and Samford 20. Second chance points were 27-23 Samford.

Mercer had trouble dealing with Samford's full court pressure as the Bears committed 20 turnovers, their second most in a game this season which led to 30 points off those turnovers for Samford.

Johnson's 26 points tied his season high and he did it on 8-for-12 shooting (75%), including 5-for-7 (71.4%) from deep. Marcus Overstreet had his second double-double in his last three games with 11 points and a season nigh 14 rebounds. Brady Shoulders added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Samford 100, Mercer 79
RECORDS: Mercer 11-13, 4-7 (SoCon); Samford 19-5, 9-2 (SoCon)
LOCATION: Birmingham, Ala. (Pete Hanna Center)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Mercer couldn't have drawn up a better start to the game as the Bears jumped on Samford early and took a 19-9 lead over the first eight minutes of the game. Johnson scored seven of Mercer's first 19 points of the game.

Samford's pressure was then able to force some turnovers from the Bears and Samford went on a 15-1 run to take a 24-20 lead. Samford was able to slowly stretch its lead to double digits at 40-29 with just over five minutes to play in the first half. Then, the Bears went on an 8-0 run to get back within three after back-to-back three-pointers from Angel Montas Jr. and Shoulders. Samford was able to take a 52-42 lead into halftime.

2ND HALF
Samford got things going in a hurry in the second half, scoring 14 points within the first two minutes of the half to Mercer's two. The Bulldogs made four three-pointers in those first two minutes to extend their lead to 66-44.

Mercer got within 16 after a layup from Overstreet, but the Bulldogs didn't let the Bears get on a long scoring run as Samford continued to make shots on the offensive end of the floor ,to come away with the win.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer went 29-for-65 from the field. The Bears have made at least 29 field goals in five consecutive games after only having one such game in their first six conference games.
+ Mercer controlled the paint as the Bears had 38 points in the paint to Samford's 26.
+ Johnson had 26 points for the fourth time this season.
+ Marus Overstreet had his second double-double in his last three games with 11 points and a season high 14 rebounds.
+ Angel Montas Jr. scored in double figures for the first time in his last five games with 10 points to go with four rebounds.

UP NEXT
Mercer returns home to welcome Wofford to Hawkins Arena on Saturday, Feb. 8. Tip-off is at 2 p.m.

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