MACON, Ga.- Kennesaw State's Brent Ragsdale led all scorers with 23 points as the Owls handed Mercer its first home loss of the season, 63-57, in Atlantic Sun men's basketball action Thursday night in the University Center. Mercer (3-11, 2-6 A-Sun) turned in its best defensive effort since the Bears' win over Savannah State Dec. 1, holding league-leader KSU to 63 points, but came up just short against the Owls. The Bears won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding Kennesaw State, 41-30, but committed 23 turnovers en route to dropping their fourth straight game.
"We played hard, but sometimes we didn't play smart," said Mercer head coach Mark Slonaker. "Kennesaw State got outstanding point guard play, and there were some tough matchups out there."
Neither team led by more than three points in the first five minutes of the contest, as the lead changed hands three times before Kennesaw State edged out to a 17-11 lead with just under 12...
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Expecting a challenge on the road, the Mercer women's basketball team stepped up and knocked off its first opponent on its two-game road trip. Three players finished with double digits as Mercer defeated Jacksonville, 66-59.
Mercer (8-6, 5-2 A-Sun) struggled to find its offensive groove in the first half, committing 10 turnovers but didn't fall too far behind as the teams swapped buckets most of the half. Jacksonville (3-11, 0-7 A-Sun) took an eight-point lead at the 1:59 mark off a 3-pointer from Regina Omoite. The Bears countered with a trey from Megan Lewis, but trailed 33-27 at halftime.
After a slow start to the second half, Mercer went on a 10-0 run to take a lead midway through. Courtney Hall tied things at 40 with a trey, while Sarah Russell and Erin Keller each contributed with a pair of free throws that sandwiched Hall's classic 3-point play conversion as the Bears took a 47-40 lead.
Ashley Williams cut the...
MACON - With Valentine's Day right around the corner, a romantic's thoughts turn to Cupid, flowers and chocolate. But did you know that the gift of chocolate can also be the gift of good health? Dr. Brian Tobin, chair of basic medical sciences and professor of nutrition, biochemistry and pediatrics at Mercer University School of Medicine, says that there are health benefits to certain chocolates, and by choosing wisely, Casanova consumers can reap those benefits for their sweeties.
MACON, Ga.- The Mercer men's basketball team opens a two-game Atlantic Sun Conference homestand playing host to league-newcomer Kennesaw State Thursday night in the University. Tip off is at 7 p.m.
The contest is the first meeting on the hardwood between the two schools, with Kennesaw State (9-8, 7-1 A-Sun) sitting atop the conference standings along with Florida Atlantic. Mercer, riding a five-game home winning streak dating back to last season, is looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
"It'll be an interesting matchup," said Mercer head coach Mark Slonaker. "Coach Ingle and I have been friends for 25 years, and it's the first time we've ever competed against each other."
The Owls come to Macon as one of the A-Sun's hottest teams, having reeled off five consecutive wins after dropping a 73-67 decision to Florida Atlantic on Jan. 6. KSU sophomore Ronnell Wooten is the lone returning starter from last season's squad that captured a...
MACON, Ga. - After extending its winning streak to four games with an overtime victory over Belmont last Saturday, the Mercer women's basketball team looks to continue its winning ways in 2006 when it travels to Jacksonville, Fla., for a two-game A-Sun set against Jacksonville and North Florida. Game Notes (pdf)
Mercer (7-6, 4-2 A-Sun) has thrived off defense during its four-game winning streak as the Bears have held opponents to 31.6 percent shooting. The Bears have also executed at the free throw line, shooting 75.5 percent during the four-game stretch.
Sarah Russell, who had a career-high 20 points against Belmont, leads Mercer in scoring (11.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg). Bench play has also been vital during the stretch, as the Bears have averaged 26.3 points off the pine during the four-game winning streak.
"Our defense has saved us in a lot of games. I've been telling the players that, if you play good...
MACON, Ga. – In an article written by Mark Etheridge for sebaseball.com on Jan. 10, he tabbed the Bears as one of the teams...
A memorial service honoring Jennifer Ross, a Mercer student who died tragically on Jan. 1 will be held Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m., in Willingham Auditorium. Students, faculty and friends are invited to join in a service of memories and reflections that celebrate her life. (In order to comply with the desires of those directing the service, the media will not be invited.)
Jennifer Ross Obituary Notice
MACON, Ga. - Each month the Atlanta Tip-Off Club honors the top high school players, coaches and officials in metro Atlanta that features a special roundtable discussion. Mercer women's basketball head coach Brenda Welch-Nichols will speak at this month's banquet on Jan. 30.
Nichols will be joined on the dais by Auburn men's basketball head coach Jeff Lebo and Georgia women's head basketball coach Andy Landers.
"It's a great honor to sit on a panel with Jeff Lebo and Andy Landers," said Nichols. "Hopefully, I'll be able to pick their brains some and bring home some great knowledge."
Nichols is also excited about the opportunity the banquet provides her and Mercer. "This is a great chance to promote my team and Mercer athletics," she said.
"This is good exposure for the program," said Mercer athletics director Bobby Pope. "It's also very timely because [Coach Nichols] has the team playing good defense and going in the right...
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Belmont Bruins' hot hand from beyond the three-point line put the Mercer men's basketball team in a early hole as the Bears wrapped up a two-game road swing through Nashville with a 96-60 A-Sun Conference loss at Belmont Monday night at the Curb Event Center.
Belmont (8-7, 6-2 A-Sun) shot a blistering 61.5 percent on eight-of 13 treys inside the first 10 minutes of the opening half to open up a 26-9 lead midway through the period. Eight of the Bruins' first nine baskets were 3-pointers.
Mercer (3-10, 2-5 A-Sun) scored the first basket of the contest on senior guard Andrew Brown's jumper, giving Mercer its only lead of the night. Belmont answered with its outside game, eventually pushing out to a 27-point lead.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Brown cut the deficit to 20 inside the final five minutes and a trey by junior Ross Alacqua at the 3:08 mark further cut the Belmont lead to 17, at 46-29 but the Bears could get no closer,...
NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Mercer men's basketball team closes out a two-game conference road swing Monday night with Belmont at the Curb Event Center with tip off at 8 p.m. (EST). Game Notes (pdf)
Mercer (3-9, 2-4 A-Sun), which has played nine of its 12 games on the road, is coming off an 83-66 loss Saturday at Lipscomb that saw the Bears break from the gate slowly and never recover, falling behind by as many as 17 points midway through the opening half. The Bisons eventually built a 35-point cushion and coasted throughout the remainder of the game.
The Bears will be bucking a trend if they are to win Monday night. Mercer is winless in five attempts against Belmont in Nashville. Belmont leads the all-time series 7-3, having won four in a row, and five of the last six meetings in a series that dates back to 1956. The two teams met in back-to-back seasons in the mid-50s, but had not faced one another again until Belmont joined the Atlantic Sun and...
