Mercer's Balanced Scoring Sends Bears To 95-77 Win Over UNCG

Thursday, January 29

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

14-8,6-3SoCon

UNC Greensboro

8-14,4-5SoCon

UNC Greensboro

Mercer

Mercer's Balanced Scoring Sends Bears To 95-77 Win Over UNCG

1/29/2026 10:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

All five starters scored in double figures for the Bears

MACON, Ga. – All five Mercer starters scored in double figures as Mercer raced past UNCG, 95-77 Thursday night from Hawkins Arena.

With the win, Mercer (14-8, 6-3 SoCon) has swept the regular season series against UNCG for the second time in the last three season. Mercer led by 14 at halftime and all but put the game away in the first three minutes of the second half by going on a 14-3 run to stretch the lead to 25 points. Mercer made 16 three-pointers, one shy of tying the single-game program record.

For the game, Mercer shot 32-for-68 (47.1%) from the field and 16-for-40 (40.0%) from three-point range. UNCG struggled offensively in the first half as the Bears held them to just 29 first half point. The Spartans shot the bell better in the second half and finished the game shooting 27-for-70 (38.6%) from the field and 10-for-34 (29.4%) from deep.

Not only did Mercer's starters play well, with all five players scoring in double figures, but Mercer's bench factored into the game as well as bench points were 22-6 in favor of the Bears.

Baraka Okojie and Brady Shoulders each tied for the team lead with 16 points each. Okojie also set up his teammates all night with a game high eight assists. Shoulders made 4-of-6 three-point attempts.

Armani Mighty registered his 13th double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Mercer's other starters, Kyle Cuffe Jr. finished with 15 points and five rebounds and Zaire Williams had 13 points and five rebounds.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Mercer 95, UNCG 77
RECORDS: Mercer (14-8, 6-3 SoCon), UNCG (8-14, 4-5 SoCon)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Okojie knocked down his second three of the game and Mercer jumped out to an early 8-2 lead. UNCG fought back and took a slim lead before a layup from Mighty brought the Bears within one point at 18-17.

After a three-pointer from UNCG gave the Spartans a 21-17 lead, Mercer went on a 15-0 run to take a 32-21 lead. During the run, five different Mercer players scored. Back-to-back three-pointers from Shoulders and Okojie stretched Mercer's lead to 13 points at 40-27. Shoulders would make his third three-pointer of the half to close the scoring in the first half as Mercer led, 43-29 at halftime.

2ND HALF
Mercer started the second half fast, going on a 14-3 run to take its largest lead of the game at 57-32. A three-pointer from Zaire Williams made it 63-36, Mercer.

Cuffe Jr. made back-to-back threes to give the Bears a 74-43 lead. A few minutes later, a pair of free throws from Mighty kept Mercer's lead at 31 points with Mercer in front, 85-54 with just under seven minutes to play.

UNCG was able to cut into its deficit somewhat, but Mercer had built too large of a lead to cause concern as the Bears rolled to a 95-77 win.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer sweeps the regular season series against UNCG. The Bears have swept two of the last three seasons against the Spartans.
+ Mercer improves to 10-0 at home. The only remaining SoCon team yet to lose at home this season.
+ Mercer went 16-for-40 (40.0%) from three-point range. The 16 made threes were one shy of the single-game program record.
+ All five Mercer starters scored at least 13 points.
+ Bench points were 22-6, Mercer
+ Zaire Williams scored 13 points. He is now five points shy of 1,000 career points.
+ Fastbreak points were, 23-8 Mercer.
+ Armani Mighty recorded his 13th double-double of the season.
+ Brady Shoulders made four three-pointers, tying his single-game career high.

UP NEXT
Mercer welcomes VMI to Macon on Saturday, Jan. 31. Tip off is at 2 p.m. from Hawkins Arena.

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