Bears Push Win Streak To Five, With 88-76 Win Over Western Carolina

Wednesday, January 21

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

13-7,5-2SoCon

Western Carolina

6-12,2-5SoCon

Western Caro.

Mercer

Bears Push Win Streak To Five, With 88-76 Win Over Western Carolina

1/21/2026 10:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Mercer improves to 9-0 at home

MACON, Ga. – Zaire Williams scored a season high 23 points to help lead Mercer to its fifth straight win, 88-76 over Western Carolina Wednesday night from Hawkins Arena.

Mercer (13-7, 5-2 SoCon) has now won five straight games and improves to 9-0 at home this season.

For the game, Mercer shot 31-for-68 (45.6%) from the field and 6-for-26 (23.1%) from three-point range. Western Carolina struggled offensively in the first half, when they shot just 6-for-27 (22.2%) for the half. The second half was much better for the Catamounts offensively as they finished the game shooting 27-for-65 (41.5%) and 11-for-34 (32.4%) from deep.

Turnovers played a big factor in the game as the Catamounts had seven turnovers in the first four minutes of the game and finished with 16 turnovers to just seven for the Bears. Western Carolina entered the game as one of the top rebounding teams in the SoCon, but Mercer outrebounded the Catamounts, 44-40.

Williams had an efficient night shooting the ball on his way to scoring 23 points. He finished the game, 9-for-14 (64.3%) from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range. He also had five rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

Armani Mighty registered his 11th double-double of the season with 20 points and 15 rebounds. He made 9-of-10 field goals. Baraka Okojie had another good night, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Mercer 88, Western Carolina 76
RECORDS: Mercer (13-7, 5-2 SoCon), UNCG (6-12, 2-5 SoCon)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Mercer couldn't have drawn up a much better start, as the Bears jumped on the Catamounts early and took an 13-0 lead with all five starters scoring. A layup from Connor Serven gave the Bears a 19-10 lead.

Two layups from Mighty, followed by a three-pointer from Williams extended Mercer's lead to 18 points at 31-23. Mercer's last six points of the half came at the free throw line from Okojie (4 pts) and Williams (2 pts) and the Bears took a 41-24 lead into halftime.

2ND HALF
A three-pointer from Okojie followed by a layup from Brady Shoulders gave Mercer its largest lead of the game at the time at 52-29. A steal from Okojie led to a fastbreak dunk from Mighty to give Mercer a 58-34 lead with 16 minutes to play.

A layup from Quinton Perkins II kept the lead at 24 points, as Mercer led 68-44. Western Carolina clawed back and cut the deficit to 11 points at 74-63 with just under eight minutes to play.

A few minutes later, with Mercer in front 78-68, Mighty would take charge in putting the game away for the Bears as he scored six straight points including an impressive sprint down the floor following a steal from Williams who laid off a nice bounce pass to Mighty for the lay up to five Mercer an 84-70 lead with 3:20 to play. Mercer would go on to close out the game and earn an 88-76 win.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer has won five straight games and improves to 9-0 at home. The only remaining unbeaten team at home in the SoCon.
+ Mercer outrebounded one of the better rebounding teams in the conference, 44-40.
+ Armani Mighty recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
+ Zaire Williams finished with a season high 23 points. One point shy of tying his career high.
+ Mercer shot 71.4 percent from the free throw line. The Bears have shot better than 70 percent from the line in each of their last eight games.
+ Mercer held Western Carolina to 6-for-27 (22.2%) from the field in the first half.
+ Points in the paint were 44-30, Mercer
+ Baraka Okojie and Kyle Cuffe Jr. each led the Bears with three steals each.
+ Mercer had just seven turnovers, tied for the second fewest in a game this season.

UP NEXT
Mercer heads back on the road to visit Wofford in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Saturday. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.

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