Bears Skin Bisons in A-Sun Opener, 79-72

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  Mercer University got off to the quick start in the Atlantic Sun Conference race, topping Lipscomb University, 79-72, in the conference opener at the Allen Arena. The Bears improved to 5-2 overall (1-0 A-Sun) with the win.

The victory also snapped a five-game losing streak on the Bisons’ home floor and was MU’s third-straight win over Lipscomb.

The two teams forged a 34-34 tie at the half. But to do that, MU had to overcome a seven point deficit, 28-21, after the Bisons’ Jordan Burgason (16 points) canned a three-pointer. A layup by Jakob Gollon with six tics left in the half tied the game going into the locker room.

The Bears opened the second half on a 7-0 run, forcing a timeout by the Bisons just two minutes into the final segment.  Mu held a comfortable lead – climbing ahead by as much as nine points - for the bulk of the period, that is until Lipscomb began to chip away.  With 6:22 left to play, a jumper by Damarius Smith drew the Bisons to within a single point, 58-57.

However, Mercer’s Langston Hall (14 points) answered on his team’s next possession by burying a three. That was followed by a layup by Jakob Gollon (18 points) to make it 63-57 at the 5:20 mark.

Justin Cecil canned a three-pointer to add to his game-leading total of 22 points and extend Mercer’s advantage to double digits – 76-66 – with 1:30 left to play. Cecil was 8-of-16 from the field and also pulled down a game-leading seven rebounds.

Bud Thomas added 11 points as the fourth Mercer player in double figure scoring.

Gollon matched Cecil with seven boards. Hall added six caroms and a game-leading six assists. Daniel Coursey added four more blocked shots to his coffers, as well.

Mercer shot 50 percent from the floor (30-of-60), as well as from three-point range (7-of-14). Conversely, MU held the Bisons to38 percent (24-of-63) from the field and forced Lipscomb into 21 turnovers.

“I just think in general our kids played hard and they wanted to win,” MU head coach Bob Hoffman said. “They believe in each other and they find a way to get it done. I’m so happy for them. It’s just fun to watch.”