November 14, 2010

Mercer Late Rally Falls Short at UTEP, 87-74

EL PASO, Texas – Mercer University battled the University of Texas-El Paso gamely for the first half before eventually falling, 87-74, at the Don Haskins Center. The game was a regional contest for the national Legends Classic tournament.

The Bears trailed by 12 at the intermission, 45-33, but could have been closer were it not for an abundance of fouls charged to the team in the opening period (17 in all). UTEP was 17-of-21 from the charity stripe in the first half alone.

The two teams proved that the best things in life are truly “free”, as UTEP hit 32-of-44 free throws for the game, while Mercer was 22-for-33, for 77 free throw attempts. In all, there were 57 fouls called between the two teams, with the Bears being whistled for 31.

The visiting Bears never succumbed to UTEP’s home court advantage – which reached 25 points with a 10:56 minutes left - and eventually whittled away at the lead and got back to within 12 with 3:15 left to play thanks to a pair of Brandon Moore free throws. However, MU could get no closer before suffering its first loss of the young season.

Mercer was led by senior guard Jeff Smith who poured in 22 points on a seven-for-12 shooting day from the field, including four-for-seven from beyond the arc and four-of-five from the free throw line.

Moore finished with a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Moore canned nine-of-13 free throw tries, himself.

No other Bear scored in double figures.

Langston Hall gave off seven assists and scored nine points, while also making four steals.

The Miners shot a blistering 51 percent from the field to help build their second half cushion. Mercer shot nearly 41 percent, itself.

“I thought we ‘grew up’ in some areas,” said MU head coach Bob Hoffman of his young team’s efforts. “But we still had too many turnovers and if we shoot the ball like I know we can (for the whole game) we are right there.

“That’s how we got back into the game; scrambling it up and making them make some plays, and we hit some shots.”