Bears Return to Hawkins to Host Kennesaw State in Non-Conference Finale

MACON, Ga. – The Mercer's men's basketball team closes out the non-conference portion of its schedule by hosting Kennesaw State University Thursday, Dec. 28 at Hawkins Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. (ET).

GAMEDAY LINEUP
Date: Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 | 7 p.m. ET
Teams: Mercer (6-6) vs. Kennesaw State (3-9)
Location: Macon, Ga. | Hawkins Arena
TV: ESPN3
Live Stats: MercerBears.com/LiveStats
Radio: 97.3 FM, 103.3 FM, iHeart Radio and Sports Mic – Rick Cameron
Twitter Updates: @MercerMBB

SERIES HISTORY
• Overall: Mercer leads 15-6 in the series
• In Kennesaw: 7-4
• In Macon: 8-2
• Neutral Sites: N/A
• Current Streak: W6
• Last Meeting: W, 80-76 at Kennesaw State (12/28/16)

BEAR NECESSITIES
About Kennesaw State
Kennesaw State carries a 3-9 record into the game vs. Mercer. However, the Owls are coming off an impressive 71-66 home court victory over Samford Dec. 21. Samford was picked to finish 2^nd in the SoCon in the preseason coaches' poll. Kennesaw State is led in scoring by James Scott, who is averaging 17.2 points per contest. Kosta Jankovic is the team's leading rebounder, grabbing 5.2 boards per outing. The Owls are members of the Atlantic Sun Conference, the former home league of the Mercer Bears.

The Owls are coached by Al Skinner, who is in his third season at the helm. Coach Skinner is a former NCAA Division I Coach of the Year and two-time Big East Coach of the Year, as he directed the Boston College program for 13 seasons. Coach Skinner also was the head coach at Rhode Island for nine campaigns. He is in his 25^th year as a collegiate head coach, where he has amassed an overall mark of 413-338, including a 28-47 ledger at Kennesaw State.

Bears Held in High Regard
Mercer has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference men's championship by the league's head coaches. The Bears were narrow favorites to claim the SoCon crown, tallying four first-place votes and 71 total points with Samford a close runner-up, earning three first-place votes and 70 total points.

Bears Rank High in Southern Conference Team Statistics
Here's a look at where the Bears' rank near the top of this week's SoCon men's basketball statistics:
Team Statistics

1^st in assist/turnover ratio (1.3)
1^st in rebounding defense (30.0)
2^nd in scoring margin (+10.8)
2^nd in field goal% (47.7%)
2^nd in 3-pt. field goal% (43.2%) – 7th in NCAA
2^nd in rebounding margin (+3.7)
2nd in scoring offense (80.2)
2nd in assists (15.9)
4th in scoring defense (69.5)
4th in free throw% (74.1%)
3rd in field goal% defense (42.9%)

Individual Statistics (player must appear in at least 75% of team's games)

Ria'n Holland – 1^st in 3-pt. field goal% (59.7%) – 2^nd in NCAA
Ria'n Holland – 2^nd in scoring (22.1) – 17^th in NCAA
Ria'n Holland – 3^rd in free throw% (88.0%)
Stephon Jelks – 2nd in 3-pt. field goal% (55.9%)
Stephon Jelks – 2nd in defensive rebounds (5.9)
Stephon Jelks – 3^rd in field goal% (60.8%)
Stephon Jelks – 4^th in rebounding (7.3)
Jordan Strawberry – 1st in assist/turnover ratio (2.6)
Jordan Strawberry – 3rd in assists (4.2)
Demetre Rivers – 2nd in free throw% (88.9%) – T40th in NCAA

Holland Offensive Extraordinaire
In games played through Dec. 25, Ria'n Holland is rated the #1 player in the nation in Offensive Efficiency according to Ken Pomeroy, a nationally acclaimed basketball statistician who produces the website Kenpom.com. Holland's Offensive Efficiency rating of 149.7 is based upon a formula that examines total offensive possessions and individual points produced. The four components that make up the total offensive possessions include scoring possessions, missed field goal possessions, missed free throw possessions and turnovers.

More on Holland
Holland has returned from a three-game absence due to injury with a vengeance in his last three outings vs. Florida A&M, La Salle, and Alabama. The 6-0 senior went for 24 points on seven of 10 shooting from the field, including six of eight behind the three point arc in the victory over the Rattlers. In the Dec. 17 loss at La Salle, Holland scored a career-high 33 points, connecting on 10 of 19 field goal attempts, including six of nine from three point range. Holland played superbly in an 80-79 nail biting loss at Alabama Dec. 19, tallying 21 points. In the nine games that he has played, he leads the team in scoring (22.1), which ranked 17^th in the NCAA and 2^nd in free throw shooting (44-50 for 92.9%). He is shooting a sizzling 55.9% from three point land (37-62), which is 2^nd best in the NCAA. Holland was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for his performance in the team's opening two games. He went for 31 points in the 88-79 loss at Central Florida and then came back with a 16-point effort in the victory over Toccoa Falls. That 31-point effort vs. UCF was the second-highest output in his Mercer career. The 6-0 product of Fayetteville, N.C., scored a career-best 32 points last season vs. The Citadel, before eclipsing that mark with a 33-point effort earlier this season vs. La Salle. Holland was named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament team as he averaged 18.3 points during the three-game stretch, including a 29-point effort in the victory over Drexel. Holland has scored in double figures in 36 of the 41 career games he has played at Mercer.

This and That
Mercer continues to rank among the nation's leaders in three point marksmanship. The Bears are 2^nd in the SoCon in three-point shooting % (43.2%), which ranks 7th in the NCAA … Demetre Rivers is coming off a season-high 24-point showing vs. Alabama. In that contest, the senior connected on six of eight field goal attempts, including three of four behind the arc, and nailed nine of 10 free throw attempts. Rivers helped ignite a furious rally for the Bears down the stretch, scoring five points in the closing seconds to almost lead Mercer to the upset win over the Crimson Tide. Rivers is the team's leading free throw shooter (88.9%), which ranks 2^nd in the SoCon and is tied for 40^th nationally … Stephon Jelks turned in a season-high 22 point effort vs. La Salle. In that contest, the 6-7 senior was seven of eight from the floor, including three of four behind the arc, and a perfect five for five from the charity stripe. Jelks flirted with a triple-double in the win over Florida A&M, scoring 12 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and handing out seven assists in that contest. Jelks leads the club in rebounding (7.3), which ranks 4^th in the SoCon and is the Bears' 2nd leading scorer (10.8). He also has been extremely accurate behind the three-point line, connecting on 19 of his 34 attempts for 55.9% ranks 2^nd in the Southern Conference. His overall field goal percentage of 60.8% ranks 1^st on the squad and 3^rd in the SoCon … Jordan Strawberry continues to pace the SoCon in assist/turnover ratio (2.6). The senior guard has dished out 50 assists (3^rd in the league) while committing just 19 turnovers. He is also Mercer's 4^th leading scorer with a 9.7 per game average … Senior Desmond Ringer is averaging 6.8 points per game and is shooting 78.6% from the free throw line … The Bears are receiving strong contributions off the bench. Ethan Stair is averaging 8.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per outing. Freshman Marcus Cohen (5.0 ppg), Cory Kilby (4.0 ppg), and Jaylen Stowe (3.3 ppg) are all averaging 13 or more minutes of playing time per contest.

Senior Leadership
Six seniors return from last year's team. Those senior leaders include: Desmond Ringer, Jordan Strawberry, Ria'n Holland, Demetre Rivers, Rashad Lewis, and Stephon Jelks. Holland is the team's leading returning scorer at 17.2 points per game; Jelks paced the club with 6.7 rebounds per outing; while Strawberry dished out a team-best 4.3 assists per contest.

Speaking of Seniors
Mercer is one of only two teams in the nation to start five seniors this season, with Texas Tech being the other. The Bears are currently 6-6 on the year and have been rated in the CollegeInsider.com Top 25 Mid-Major poll for the majority of the season, while the Red Raiders of the Big 12 Conference sport an 11-1 and are currently ranked No. 21 in this week's Associated Press poll.

Returning Firepower
Mercer returns all five starters from last season's club. Those five starters – Ria'n Holland, Jordan Strawberry, Demetre Rivers, Desmond Ringer, and Stephon Jelks – combined to score a total of 1,744 of the team's 2,269 points on the season. That translates to nearly 77% of the Bears' offensive output from last year. In total, nine players are back from the 2016-17 team.

Preseason Watch List
Holland was named to the 2017-18 Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by CollegeInsider.com earlier this season. The Lou Henson Award is presented annually to the nation's top NCAA Division I mid-major player. Holland is one of 51 mid-major players included on the preseason watch list. The award is named after Lou Henson, who coached college basketball for 41 years and was sixth all-time in career Division I wins (779) when he left the game in 2005. Holland is one of four players from SoCon teams included on the watch list. Players on teams from the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, ASUN, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro-Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt and West Coast. The winner of the 2017-18 Lou Henson Award will be announced on March 31, 2018 at the CollegeInsider.com Awards Event in San Antonio, Texas, the site of the men's NCAA Basketball Championship.

Holland was also named to the preseason All-Southern Conference team as selected by the league's coaches prior to the start of this year.

Coach Hoffman-Led Bears Own 10 Power Conference Wins
Under Head Coach Bob Hoffman's leadership, Mercer has posted some impressive victories over power conference programs. Two of those victories have come against Alabama; both times on the Crimson Tide's home court in Tuscaloosa. The Bears' most celebrated power conference victory came against No. 6 Duke in the NCAA Championship Tournament, when Mercer knocked off the Blue Devils 78-71 on March 21, 2014 in Raleigh, N.C. Most recently on this win list, Mercer defeated Arkansas 69-66 on Dec. 19, 2015 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Here's a complete list of Mercer's power conference wins under Coach Hoffman:

Mercer 69, Arkansas 66 – December 19, 2015 – Fayetteville, Arkansas
Mercer 78, Duke 71 – March 21, 2014 – Raleigh, North Carolina
Mercer 79, Ole Miss 76 – December 22, 2013 – Oxford, Mississippi
Mercer 77, Seton Hall 74 – November 16, 2013 – Macon, Georgia
Mercer 75, Tennessee 67 – March 20, 2013 – Knoxville, Tennessee
Mercer 66, Alabama 59 – December 22, 2012 – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Mercer 61, Florida State 56 – December 2, 2012 – Tallahassee, Florida
Mercer 65, Georgia Tech 59 – December 22, 2010 – Atlanta, Georgia
Mercer 78, Auburn 74 – November 19, 2008 – Auburn, Alabama
Mercer 72, Alabama 69 – November 16, 2008 – Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Coach Hoffman Closing In On 500 Victories
Mercer head coach Bob Hoffman has certainly achieved a great deal of success during his coaching career and he is closing in on a milestone that will only add to his list of superlative accomplishments. Coach Hoffman heads into Thursday's game against Kennesaw State with 496 victories at the collegiate men's level, just four shy of 500. Coach Hoffman accumulated 243 wins as the head coach at Oklahoma Baptist from 1990-99; 68 victories while at Texas Pan-American (1999-2004); and he has won 185 games as Mercer's head coach (2008-present). Coach Hoffman has led Mercer to unprecedented success during his tenure with the Bears. The two-time Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year has directed Mercer to 18 post-season victories and 10 power conference wins. Twice the Bears have won a school-record 27 games (2011-12 and 2013-14) under his leadership.

Series History
This will be the 22nd meeting between these two schools, with Mercer holding a 15-6 lead in the series. The Bears are 8-2 in Macon against the Owls and 7-4 vs. Kennesaw State away from home. Mercer has won the last six meetings against the Owls, including last season's hard-fought 80-76 victory on the Owls' home floor.

What's Next
Following Thursday's game, Mercer opens Southern Conference play by hosting East Tennessee State Sunday, Dec. 31. Tipoff time for the New Year's Eve matchup is 2 p.m. at Hawkins Arena.

How to Follow the Bears:
For complete coverage of Mercer Basketball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerMBB (Twitter), /MercerBasketball (Facebook) and @Mercer_MBB (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.

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Bears Return to Hawkins to Host Kennesaw State in Non-Conference Finale

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Cohen

Ria'n Holland

Stephon Jelks

Cory Kilby

Rashad Lewis

Desmond Ringer

Demetre Rivers

Ethan Stair

Jaylen Stowe

Jordan Strawberry

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Mercer University Athletics

Bears Return to Hawkins to Host Kennesaw State in Non-Conference Finale

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marcus Cohen

Ria'n Holland

Stephon Jelks

Cory Kilby

Rashad Lewis

Desmond Ringer

Demetre Rivers

Ethan Stair

Jaylen Stowe

Jordan Strawberry

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