Mercer Bears men's basketball

Mercer Bears
2024–25 Mercer Bears men's basketball team
UniversityMercer University
Head coachRyan Ridder (1st season)
ConferenceSoCon
LocationMacon, Georgia
ArenaHawkins Arena
(capacity: 3,500)
NicknameBears
Student sectionMercer Maniacs
ColorsBlack and orange[1]
   
NCAA tournament round of 32
1972*, 2014
NCAA tournament appearances
1972*, 1981, 1985, 2014
*at Division II level
Conference tournament champions
SIAA: 1922, 1924, 1925
TAAC/A-Sun: 1981, 1985, 2014
Conference regular season champions
TAAC/A-Sun: 2003, 2013, 2014

The Mercer Bears men's basketball team represents Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, United States. The school's team competes in the Southern Conference. They are led by head coach Ryan Ridder and play their home games at Hawkins Arena.

History

Mercer has competed in the NCAA tournament three times, including 1981 and 1985; the team lost in the first round in both years.[2] The Bears won the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, defeating Utah State in the championship game; the victory was the first postseason championship won by a team from the Atlantic Sun Conference.[3]

Mercer's biggest win occurred at the 2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, where they beat third-seed Duke in the second round.

Postseason

NCAA Division I tournament results

The Bears have appeared in three NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–3. Their latest appearance was the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

Year Round Opponent Result
1981 First round Arkansas L 67–73
1985 First round Georgia Tech L 58–65
2014 Second Round
Third round		 Duke
Tennessee		 W 78–71
L 63–83

NCAA Division II tournament results

The Bears have appeared in one NCAA Division II tournament. Their record is 0–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
1972 Regional semifinals
Regional 3rd-place game		 Roanoke
Florida Southern		 L 72–78
L 83–85

NIT results

The Bears have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2013 First round
Second Round		 Tennessee
BYU		 W 75–67
L 71–90

CBI results

The Bears have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) two times. Their combined record is 2–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2015 First round
Quarterfinals		 Stony Brook
Louisiana–Monroe		 W 72–70
L 69–71
2018 First round
Quarterfinals		 Grand Canyon
North Texas		 W 78–73
L 67–96

CIT results

The Bears have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) two times. They are 5–1 and were champions in 2012.

Year Round Opponent Result
2012 First round
Second Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals		 Tennessee State
Georgia State
Old Dominion
Fairfield
Utah State		 W 68–60
W 64–59
W 79–73
W 64–59
W 70–67
2016 First round Coastal Carolina L 57–65

NAIA Tournament results

The Bears have appeared in two NAIA Tournaments. Their combined record is 0–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
1948 First round Hamline L 41–85
1954 First round Arkansas Tech L 72–100

NIBT results

The Bears participated in the 1922 National Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament, the first national championship tournament ever held in intercollegiate basketball. Their record is 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1922 Semifinals Wabash L 25–62

Players

Retired numbers

Mercer has retired six numbers in program history.[4]

Mercer Bears retired numbers
No. Player Years
4 Scott Emerson 1999–2004
7 Tommy Mixon 1951–1955
13 Glenn Wilkes 1946–1950
21 Langston Hall 2010–2014
24 Eric Chambers 1983–1985
42 Sam Mitchell 1981–1985

References

  1. ^ "Color - Mercer University Style Guide". Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  2. ^ "NCAA basketball tournament History: Mercer Bears". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  3. ^ "Men's Basketball Captures CIT Championship". Mercer University. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  4. ^ "2019–20 Mercer Bears media guide, page 35" (PDF). Mercerbears.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.


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