Mercer Drops Game To Chattanooga, 94-90

Thursday, February 19

Macon, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

17-11,9-6SoCon

Chattanooga

11-17,5-10SoCon

Chattanooga

Mercer

2/19/2026 10:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Zaire Williams scored a career high 27 points for the Bears

MACON, Ga. – Zaire Williams scored a career high 27 points, but Mercer dropped a close game at home to Chattanooga, 94-90 Thursday night from Hawkins Arena.

It's the first loss at home for the Bears all season who drop to 12-1 inside Hawkins Arena.

Both teams shot the ball at a good rate as Mercer went 31-for-56 (55.4%) and made 12-of-23 (52.2%) three-pointers. On the other side, Chattanooga scored its most points against a conference opponent this season as the Mocs shot 35-for-57 (61.4%) and made 10-of-22 (45.5%) three-pointers. Chattanooga's field goal percentage of 61.4 percent was a season high for the Mocs.

One difference in the game was free throws. Mercer, despite attempting 10 more free throws, only made two more than Chattanooga. The Mocs shot 82.4 percent from the line while the Bears went 59.3 percent from the foul line. Chattanooga outrebounded the Bears, 33-25.

Williams' career high 27 points came on an efficient day shooting as he went 9-for-14 (64.3%) from the field and made 7-of-11 (63.7%) three's. Baraka Okojie had 20 points with three rebounds and three steals. Armani Mighty finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Chattanooga 94, Mercer 90
RECORDS: Chattanooga (11-17, 5-10 SoCon), Mercer (17-11, 9-6 SoCon)
LOCATION: Macon, Ga. (Hawkins Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Chattanooga got out to a quick start as Mercer struggled to make shots in the first three minutes of the game as the Mocs led 7-0. Williams made back-to-back three-pointers to complete a 13-2 run for Mercer who took a 13-9 lead.

A layup from Mighty tied the game at 19. Chattanooga's Josh Bowman made a layup to give the Mocs a 30-24 lead. Williams' fourth three-pointer of the half brought Mercer within two with the score 34-32. However, Chattanooga would then go on an 8-0 run to take its largest lead of the first half at 10 points with a 42-32 lead. Mercer would score the last five points of the first half and Chattanooga would take a 44-39 lead into the break.

2ND HALF
Shoulders grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and was fouled while converting a layup. Shoulders made the ensuing free throw to make it a 49-47 lead for Chattanooga. A few minutes later, Williams put pressure on Chattanooga's Brennan Watkins who was bringing the ball up the court and Williams stole the ball and bolted the other way for the layup to tie the game at 54 with 14 minutes to play.

Mercer trailed, 59-56 before going on a 9-0 run to take a 65-59 lead. Williams, Quinton Perkins II and Okojie all made a three-pointer during the quick run for the Bears. Perkins made his second three of the game to give Mercer a 70-63 lead with just over nine minutes to play. Connor Serven tipped the ball in off a missed three-pointer to give the Bears a 74-70 lead with more than seven minutes to play.

Then, Mercer's offense went cold for nearly five minutes and Chattanooga went on a 14-2 run to take an 84-76 lead with 2:41 to play. A pair of free throws from Serven made it a one-possession game with 1:14 to play as Chattanooga led 86-84. However, on the next Mocs possession, Frison made a jumper for his 25th point of the game to give the Mocs an 88-84 lead with 84 seconds to play. Chattanooga got a stop on the defensive end on Mercer's next offensive possession and the Mocs made enough free throws to hold on for the win.

NOTABLES
+ Zaire Williams scored a career high 27 points, while shooting 7-for-11 from deep.
+ Mercer suffers its first home loss of the season, dropping to 12-1 at home.
+ The Bears shot better than 50 percent from the field and from three.
+ Mercer's 90 points marked the sixth conference game this season in which the Bears scored at least 90 points.
+ Neither team turned the ball over much as Chattanooga had eight turnovers and Mercer just six.
+ Points in the paint were almost even as Chattanooga led in that category, 36-34.

UP NEXT
Mercer is back at home on Saturday to play Samford. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Hawkins Arena.

STAY CONNECTED
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