February 18, 2011

Bears Win Fifth Straight; Top UNF, 78-75

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mercer University’s men’s basketball team kept rolling along with its fifth-straight victory, a 78-75 decision at the University of North Florida. The win improved the Bears to 13-15 overall and 10-7 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

 

While MU knew entering the game it had already clinched its 27^th-consecutive berth in the A-Sun championship tournament – hosted by Mercer on March 2-5 at the University Center – it is still looking at a chance to ascend the standings. The Bears entered the game versus UNF in fifth place, one game out of fourth.

 

Taking down the Ospreys, however, proved to be no easy task. UNF, which had topped Mercer in Macon (74-64) just a couple weeks ago, was ready for the Bears in their own arena. The Ospreys enjoyed a nine point lead in the first half and MU an eight point advantage in the opening stanza, as well.

 

The teams ended tied at 33-33 at the intermission. In the second half, neither squad led by more than five points at any time. The Bears – already depleted by injury – had three guards (Bud Thomas, Mark Hall and Chris Smith) all foul out down the stretch.

 

But senior Brian Mills – as he has done so often of late – put the team on his back early and often versus UNF. Mills had a career-high 34 points by hitting 11-of-22 from the floor and 12-of-14 free throws, scoring the Bears’ first seven points of the game. It was Mills’ 23^rd double-figure scoring game and his ninth with 20-plus points.

 

While Mills was the Bears lone double digit scorer, the contributions team-wide are what made the difference down to the wire. Redshirt sophomore Jake Gollon tallied MU’s final four points of the game to provide the margin of victory.

 

With Mercer down by a point, 75-75, with 30.5 seconds left, Mills missed a short jumper. But Justin Cecil was there to grab the all-important offensive rebound allowing MU head coach Bob Hoffman to call a timeout with14.4 left.

 

The inbound pass went to Gollon who spun and popped an eight-foot jumper to put his team on top, 76-75.

 

The Ospreys’ Jimmy Williams drove the length of the floor and tried a layup with the clock winding down. However, Gollon was there to cleanly block the shot and grab the defensive rebound, forcing UNF to foul him. Gollon would hit both charity tosses for the 78-75 final score.

 

“This team is coming together like you would not even believe,” Gollon said. “We’ve really faced different kinds of adversity all year and I’m truly amazed at how close we have gotten. You look around; you look in our guys’ eyes on the bench during the game and you can see the confidence of the team. We’re doing it for each other.”

 

Thomas added nine points to Mills’ totals. 6-11 freshman Monty Brown had a career-best eight points in just nine minutes of action. Cecil had seven points and a team-leading seven rebounds.

 

Freshman point guard Langston Hall had seven assists.

 

The Bears will go for a sixth-consecutive win – and close out the two-game northern Florida swing – on Sunday versus Jacksonville University. Tip-off at Veterans Memorial Arena is slated for 5:15 p.m.