Friday, January 6, 2023

Game #17 - Mercer Bears


Who: Mercer Bears
When: Saturday, January 7, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm
Where: Ramsey Center, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
   -announcer: Gary Ayers (PxP)
TV/video: ESPN+
   -announcer:  Daniel Hooker (Play by Play) and Evan Ellis (Color Analyst)
Nickname: Bears
Colors: Black & Orange
Students: 9,024
Mascot: Toby
Message Board

Head Coach: Greg Gary begins his fourth season leading the Mercer men’s program.
Gary's record vs. WCU: 4-4
Gray's record vs. UNCG: 1-2

Mercer's current record: 7-9 overall, 4-2 home, 1-5 away, 2-1 neutral, 0-3 SoCon
Mercer's last season record: 16-17 overall, 10-4 home, 4-11 away, 2-2 neutral, 8-10 SoCon

The Series: The Cats are 12-13 overall against Mercer, in a series that started in 1978. The Cats are 4-6 in the last ten games played against the Bears and are 7-3 in games played in Cullowhee. The two teams split last season, each winning on their home court, but Mercer picked up another win over the Cats in the SoCon tournament, knocking the Cats out of the tournament in the first-round last season.  Mercer has not won at WCU since 2019.
 

Mercer comes to Cullowhee riding a three-game conference losing streak, after a 1-point loss to Wofford on their home court in Macon. The Bears started the eighth different lineup of the season against the Terriers, and the starting five on Wednesday accounted for all but four points. The scoring efforts were led by Jalyn McCreary (16 PTS) for the ninth game this season. The Bears have lost to Samford (69-78), Chattanooga (51-80), and Wofford (52-53). Mercer was picked by both the coaches & media preseason polls to finish in 7th place. 

Currently the Bears hold down ninth place in the conference, tied with VMI both holding 0-3 conference records. Mercer sits in 7th place in scoring offense, posting an average of 73.4 points per game (ppg) and sits in 6th place in scoring defense, holding teams to an average of 69.1 points per game.  





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