ETSU defeats Mercer 77-71
ETSU Edges Out Mercer in Thrilling 3-Point Shooting Battle
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In a back-and-forth contest that showcased the best of both teams' shooting prowess, East Tennessee State (ETSU) edged out visiting Mercer with a narrow 77-71 victory on Monday night at Freedom Hall.
The game's primary storyline was undoubtedly ETSU's impressive comeback in the second half. Down by one point at halftime, the Buccaneers stormed back behind the hot hand of senior Brian Taylor II to take a 12-point lead. However, the Bears refused to be silenced, and they clawed their way back into the contest with clutch three-pointers.
Taylor II was the catalyst for ETSU's resurgence, scoring 21 points in the second half on an efficient 41.7% shooting clip from the field. The senior forward also chipped in with eight rebounds and two assists, as he controlled the paint and distributed the ball to his teammates.
Meanwhile, Mercer's Brady Shoulders was his team's primary scoring option, netting 21 points on a respectable 63.6% shooting percentage from the field. However, it wasn't enough to overcome ETSU's collective effort, as Baraka Okojie led the Bears with four assists and Armani Mighty grabbed nine rebounds in the losing effort.
The game was won by ETSU due largely to its superior three-point shooting performance. The Buccaneers connected on 32.0% of their attempts from beyond the arc, while Mercer struggled at just 32.0%. This disparity ultimately proved decisive in the contest, as Taylor II's hot hand from deep helped seal the victory for his team.
Advanced Statistics
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ETSU (HOME): 24/57 FG, 18/38 2PT, 6/19 3PT, 23/27 FT
* eFG%: 47.4%
* FT Rate: 47.4%
* OREB%: 40.0%
Mercer (AWAY): 25/58 FG, 16/30 2PT, 9/28 3PT, 12/17 FT
* eFG%: 50.9%
* FT Rate: 29.3%
* TO Ratio: 19.1%
Largest Lead
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ETSU (HOME): 12 points
Mercer (AWAY): 6 points
In the end, ETSU's well-rounded performance and clutch shooting from Taylor II proved too much for Mercer to overcome. The Buccaneers' victory marked a significant upset in conference play, as they handed the Bears their first loss on the road this season.