MACON, Ga. (AP) Bud Thomas, Langston Hall and Travis Smith scored 11 points each to lead Mercer in a 54-46 victory over East Tennessee State Monday night, its eighth straight win.
Mercer (19-7, 11-2 Atlantic Sun Conference) held the Buccaneers to 25.9 percent from the field in the first half (7 of 27), including 2 of 10 from 3-point range. The Bears led 24-17 at halftime, scoring 16 of their points in the paint.
ETSU (12-11, 6-6) cut it to three, 37-34, with 8:37 remaining but Mercer answered with an 8-1 run. Smith's three-point play capped the spurt, putting the Bears ahead 45-34 with 3:21 left.
Mercer shot 37 percent from the field (17 of 46) but made 82.6 percent from the free-throw line (19 of 23).
Jakob Gollon grabbed 13 boards as the Bears outrebounded ETSU 42-31.
The Buccaneers were led by Adam Sollazzo with 13 points and Jarvis Jones with 11.
