Bears Host Piedmont in Three-Game Homestand Finale
Robbie Burns
12/9/2009 5:09:53 PM
MACON, GA – Mercer will hit the court tomorrow night when it hosts the Piedmont Lions in the University Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
The Bears will try and end a four-game losing streak that currently has them at 3-5 overall and 0-2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Piedmont enters the game with a 3-2 record.
Head Coach Bob Hoffman’s crew lost two hard-fought conference games last week to Lipscomb and Belmont. The Bears return to non-conference action against the Lions and then on the road at Vanderbilt (Dec. 21), Alabama (Dec. 23) and UNC Charlotte (Dec. 29).
Piedmont enters on a two game winning streak that included a 76-73 win at Oglethorpe University last week. The Lions are led by three seniors, Samuel Coppage, Michael Rubio and J.C. Herebia who are averaging 13.0, 12.4 and 11. 4 points per game. As a team, Piedmont is shooting nearly 45% from the field and 38% from long range.
Though the Bears have struggled, there have been bright spots. Seniors James Florence, Daniel Emerson and EJ Kusnyer are ranked among the nation’s top 20 players in respective categories. Florence is college basketball’s sixth-best scorer at 24.3 per game while Emerson is tied for third in rebounding with 11.8 per game. Kusnyer ranks 15th in America in three-point shooting and has connected on 26-of-70 attempts.
Florence also continues his march on Mercer’s all-time scoring record. The Blue Ribbon Forecast A-Sun Preseason Player of the Year is only 56 points shy of passing current record holder Sam Mitchell who finished his stellar career with 1,986 points.
Mercer and Piedmont have tangled seven times with the Bears holding a 6-1 series lead. Last year, Mercer exploded for 51 second half points to win the game, 89-63.