February 5, 2011

Bears Maul Campbell, 63-45

 

MACON, Ga. – The last time Mercer University men's basketball team played Campbell University, it took an overtime period to decide matters in favor of the Camels. In Saturday's rematch in Macon, things were pretty much settled with ten minutes left to play in the game as the Bears cruised to a 63-45 victory before 2,671 fans at the University Center.

MU led at the half, 26-20, as CU's largest lead of the game came on the first basket of the night, 2-0. Conversely, with 9:58 remaining to be played, Mercer enjoyed a 20-point cushion after a trey by Mark Hall made it 49-29.

The win was much needed by MU for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it moves them upward in the standings of an ever-tightening Atlantic Sun Conference race. Mercer improved to 9-15 overall and is now 6-7 in the A-Sun, moving the team into the No. 6 position.

The Bears were also playing their fourth game without leading scorer and assist man Jeff Smith and their first contest minus third-leading scorer and top rebounder, Brandon Moore. Both seniors were lost to the team in the past two weeks due to knee injuries and MU was a team in flux.

But Head Coach Bob Hoffman's squad continued to find renewed support from players who were heretofore only playing sporadic minutes. Versus Campbell this time, it was freshman Bud Thomas providing the contribution in the form of his first collegiate double-double. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native scored 10 point and pulled down 10 rebounds to help the Bears pull away in the second half.

Senior Brian Mills led all scorers with 20 points, for his 19^th double-digit scoring game of the year and 6^th game with 20 or more points this season. While struggling from the field a bit – he was just 5-for-19 – like any good scorer Mills found a way to help his team and did so by sinking a career-high 10 free throws (in 12 tries).

Fellow senior Mark Hall also tallied 10 points to round out the MU double-figure scorers.

Perhaps one of the pleasant surprises was freshman point guard Langston Hall grabbing eight rebounds, which was second only to Thomas' 10 boards on either team's box score).  Langston Hall added seven points.

A smothering Mercer defense held the Camels to an arid 25 percent (13-52) shooting from the field and just 45 points. It was the second-fewest points allowed by MU this season, falling only behind the season-low 44 points permitted NCAA Division III Oglethorpe in the season-opening game.

No Campbell player scored in double figures in the game. CU's top point men were Jnard Hartley and Eric Griffin with nine apiece.

Mercer also won the battle of the boards by a 41 to 32 margin.

 "This was a huge game for this team for this season," Hoffman said. "There's a lot more to happen, but we played like this was our conference championship and we had to have it.

"We had all kinds of guys step up and make plays."

The Bears will next be in action at home on Thursday (Feb. 10), hosting Stetson. Tip-off at the U.C. will be at 7:30 p.m.