Bears Drop Game 79-75 At Chattanooga

Thursday, February 5

Chattanooga, Tenn.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

15-9,7-4SoCon

Chattanooga

10-14,4-7SoCon

Mercer

Chattanooga

2/5/2026 10:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Mercer men's basketball team dropped a tough 79-75 game on the road to Chattanooga Thursday night from McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Despite a tough shooting night for the Bears, Mercer continued to attack the rim and got the free throw line often. Mercer shot 18-of-51 (31.0%) from the field but went 33-for-43 (76.7%) from the foul line. Chattanooga went 25-for-46 (54.3%) from the field and made 10-of-22 (45.5%) three-pointers.

The Bears had the edge in rebounding (34-25, Mercer) and turnovers (17 for Chattanooga, 10 for Mercer).

Baraka Okojie had 19 points and six assists. Armani Mighty had 18 points and seven rebounds.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Chattanooga 79, Mercer 75
RECORDS: Mercer (15-9, 7-4 SoCon), Chattanooga (10-14, 4-7 SoCon)
LOCATION: Chattanooga, Tenn. (McKenzie Arena)

HOW IT HAPPENED
1ST HALF
Mercer used a 9-1 run in to take an early 11-9 lead. Mighty scored eight straight points for the Bears to give Mercer a 22-17 lead.

Okojie drove to the right elbow and found Brady Shoulders cutting to the rim who scored to give Mercer its largest lead of the game at nine points, 32-23. Chattanooga however did not let the Bears add to its lead in the final five minutes of the half. Instead, the Mocs went on a 10-1 run to tie the game at 33.

Mercer closed the half with a pair of buckets from Tristan Gross and Okojie and the Bears would take a 37-34 lead into halftime.

2ND HALF
A great defensive play and steal from Okojie led to a fastbreak opportunity for the Bears led by Connor Serven, who floated a pass to Mighty who rose above the rim and slammed it home to give Mercer a 48-44 lead.

A pair of free throws from Serven gave Mercer a 54-46 lead with just under 12 minutes to play in the game. Chattanooga would then go on a 10-0 run to take a 56-54 lead.

Okojie knocked down a pair of free throws to bring Mercer within one at 63-62 with just under six minutes to play. An offensive rebound from Zaire Williams led to a three-pointer from Kyle Cuffe Jr. who tied the game at 66 with 3:44 to play.

A 7-1 run for the Mocs followed the Cuffe three-pointer, but Serven stopped the run with a three-pointer from the corner to make it 73-70, Chattanooga with two minutes to play. On the following possession for the Mocs, Jordan Frison hit a step-back three-pointer to put the Mocs up 76-70 with under one minute to go. A steal and layup from Williams made it a two-point game with Chattanooga leading 76-74 with 32 seconds to play. However, Chattanooga made its free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

NOTABLES
+ Mercer outrebounded Chattanooga, 34-25 and had a 16-3 edge in offensive rebounds.
+ Mercer's 33 made free throws were the most the Bears have made in a game this season.
+ Armani Mighty finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. He went 4-for-5 from the field and made a season high 10 free throws.
+ Brady Shoulders led Mercer with 10 rebounds, his second consecutive game with double figure rebounds.
+ All five Mercer starters scored scored in double figures for the second consecutive game.
+ Mercer had just 10 turnovers to 17 for Chattanooga.
+ Fastbreak points were 20-11, Mercer

UP NEXT
Mercer will visit Samford on Saturday, Feb. 7. Tip off is at 6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT from Birmingham, Alabama.

STAY CONNECTED
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