MACON, Ga. – Mercer's men's basketball team continued its hot streak, notching its third-straight win with a 75-59 Atlantic Sun Conference victory over Stetson University at the University Center. The win upped the Bears' record to 11-6 overall and 3-1 in A-Sun play, while the Hatters fell to 5-9 on the year and 2-2 in league.

 

This was the ninth time this season in which the Mercer team has held an opponent under 60 points. The Bears are a perfect 9-0 in those games.

 

While both teams struggled with shooting in the first half, MU had a slump to the point of making just 37.1 percent of its attempts with 3:21 left in the opening period and the scored tied at 23-23. But the Bears re-discovered their inside game at that juncture and would make five of their last six shots heading into the halftime locker room. The blitz not only raised Mercer's field goal percentage to better than 46 percent, but also gave the hosts a 36-28 cushion.

 

"Neither team shot very well," MU head coach Bob Hoffman said of the opening segment. "But we played through it and made some adjustments and got it done. I love how this team enjoys success together!"

 

In the second half, Mercer picked up where it left off in the first. By the 16:19 mark of the second, the Bears extended the lead to 14 points on a three-point play by Jakob Gollon. That would swell to 22 points with 4:09 left in the game, after Travis Smith canned a pair of free throws to make it 68-46.

 

Sophomore Bud Thomas led the Mercer team with 16 points, hitting seven-of-11 from the floor. Thomas also pulled down six rebounds in 33 minutes of court time.

 

Fellow sophomore Monty Brown contributed 13 points, thanks to his prowess from the charity stripe. Brown converted nine-of-10 free throws, while going two-of-three from the floor.

 

Senior Justin Cecil tallied 12 points and Gollon 11 to round out the quartet of double-digit scorers. It was Gollon's team-leading 12^th double figure scoring game of the year.

 

Gollon aso led all rebounders with seven caroms.

 

As a team, MU out-shot the Hatters 47.1 percent to 37.5 percent on the night. The Bears also won the battle of the boards by a 38-29 margin.

 

"This is the best start we've had since I've been here," Hoffman said. "We have an energy about us that's unique. It's fun to watch."