Mercer men’s basketball rolls Bethune-Cookman, 67-46

MACON, Ga. (MERCER ATHLETICS RELEASE) – The Mercer men’s basketball team scored the first 10 points, built a 17-point first half lead and were never truly threatened in a wire-to-wire 67-46 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Friday at Hawkins Arena. Junior Ike Nwamu booked his fifth 20-plus point performance of the year, leading all scorers with 22.

Mercer won for the third time in its last four chances and moved to 6-5 on the season, while Bethune-Cookman lost its third-straight and fell to 3-9.

Nwamu shot 6-of-12 from the field and posted four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block on the evening. He was joined in double-digit scoring by senior Darious Moten and junior Jibri Bryan, who scored 10 apiece.

Nwamu scored the first seven points of the game and Bryan added a corner triple to stake the Bears to the early 10-0 lead. The Bears pushed ahead by as many as 17 in the stanza while holding the Wildcats to just three made field goals in the first 14 minutes of action. The visitors finished the half strong, however, closing on a 15-7 run to trim their deficit to 33-24 by halftime.

Leonard got Mercer’s lead back to double-digits with a pull-up floater on the first possession out of the break, and the Bears started the half on a 10-4 charge to go ahead by 15. The Wildcats remained resilient again, scoring on three of the next four possessions to get back with nine.

The Bears scored the game’s next eight points and ultimately went ahead by 23 before the final buzzer. Mercer’s defense was paramount in the second half, holding Bethune-Cookman to 0-of-9 3-point shooting while forcing seven turnovers.

Nwamu scored his 20th point of the night in characteristic fashion, cutting baseline and crushing home a one-handed alley-oop slam to the delight of the Mercer faithful. Leonard’s dish was one of seven assists that he also paired with seven rebounds and six points.

Senior T.J. Hallice added nine points and seven rebounds while Jordan Strawberry and Stephon Jelks combined for 10 points off the bench.

Mercer begins a season-long six-game road swing on Monday at Tennessee. Game time in Knoxville is slated for 7 p.m.