2023–24 Mercer Bears men's basketball team

2023–24 Mercer Bears men's basketball
ConferenceSouthern Conference
Record16–17 (8–10 SoCon)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Bobby Kummer
  • Kim Lewis
  • D.J. Byrd
Home arenaHawkins Arena
Seasons
2023–24 Southern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Samford † 15 – 3   .833 29 – 6   .829
UNC Greensboro 12 – 6   .667 21 – 11   .656
Chattanooga 12 – 6   .667 21 – 12   .636
Western Carolina 11 – 7   .611 22 – 10   .688
Furman 10 – 8   .556 17 – 16   .515
Wofford 10 – 8   .556 17 – 15   .531
East Tennessee State 8 – 10   .444 19 – 16   .543
Mercer 8 – 10   .444 16 – 17   .485
The Citadel 3 – 15   .167 11 – 21   .344
VMI 1 – 17   .056 4 – 28   .125
† 2024 SoCon tournament winner

The 2023–24 Mercer Bears men's basketball team represented Mercer University in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bears, led by fifth-year head coach Greg Gary, played their home games at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Georgia as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The Bears finished the season 16–17, 8–10 in SoCon play, to finish in eighth place.[1] They defeated The Citadel in the first round of the SoCon tournament,[2] before losing to Samford in the quarterfinals.[3] Following the conclusion of the season, head coach Greg Gary and the school parted ways.[4]

Previous season

The Bears finished the 2022–23 season 14–19, 6–12 in SoCon play, to finish in eighth place.[5] They defeated The Citadel in the first round of the SoCon tournament,[6] before losing to Furman in the quarterfinals.[7]

Roster

2023–24 Mercer Bears men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
G 0 Jah Quinones 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 225 lb (102 kg) So Orlando, FL
G 1 Anthony Benard 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Detroit, MI
G 2 Michael Zanoni 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Charlotte, NC
G 3 Jalen Cobb 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) GS Decatur, GA
F 5 Jalyn McCreary 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Sr Marietta, GA
F 6 Alex Holt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jr Lexington, NC
F 8 Amanze Ngumezi 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) GS Savannah, GA
F 9 Earnest Ofremu 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Powder Springs, GA
G 10 Caleb Hunter 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Jr Detroit, MI
G 11 Robby Carmody 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) GS Mars, PA
G 12 David Thomas 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr McDonough, GA
F 14 TJ Grant 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Warner Robins, GA
F 15 Jake Davis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr McCordsville, IN
G 22 Lukas Platauna 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Savannah, GA
C 23 Sidy Diallo 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 210 lb (95 kg) So Dakar, Senegal
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: November 25, 2023

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Clark Atlanta L 64–71  0–1
 Hawkins Arena (1,272)
Macon, GA
November 9, 2023*
8:00 p.m. 		at Chicago State W 66–61  1–1
 Jones Convocation Center (233)
Chicago, IL
November 14, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Morehead State L 66–74  1–2
 Ellis Johnson Arena (1,455)
Morehead, KY
November 17, 2023*
8:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		at No. 22 Alabama
Emerald Coast Classic campus-site game 		L 67–98  1–3
 Coleman Coliseum (10,300)
Tuscaloosa, AL
November 24, 2023*
12:00 p.m. 		vs. Tennessee State
Emerald Coast Classic semifinals 		W 60–59  2–3
 The Arena at NFSC (100)
Niceville, FL
November 25, 2023*
1:30 p.m. 		vs. Western Michigan
Emerald Coast Classic championship 		L 66–72  2–4
 The Arena at NFSC (150)
Niceville, FL
December 1, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		at Georgia L 69–80  2–5
 Stegeman Coliseum (5,694)
Athens, GA
December 6, 2023*
11:00 a.m., ESPN+ 		South Alabama L 62–83  2–6
 Hawkins Arena (3,207)
Macon, GA
December 9, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Georgia State W 64–60  3–6
 Hawkins Arena (1,527)
Macon, GA
December 16, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Florida Gulf Coast W 70–65  4–6
 Hawkins Arena (1,009)
Macon, GA
December 19, 2023*
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Queens W 84–65  5–6
 Hawkins Arena (839)
Macon, GA
December 21, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Thomas W 98–75  6–6
 Hawkins Arena (437)
Macon, GA
December 29, 2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Talladega W 74–50  7–6
 Hawkins Arena (1,257)
Macon, GA
SoCon regular season
January 3, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at East Tennessee State L 69–80  7–7
(0–1) 		Freedom Hall Civic Center (3,529)
Johnson City, TN
January 6, 2024
1:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at VMI W 86–64  8–7
(1–1) 		Cameron Hall (322)
Lexington, VA
January 10, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Wofford L 73–74  8–8
(1–2) 		Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium (1,150)
Spartanburg, SC
January 13, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Western Carolina L 52–64  8–9
(1–3) 		Hawkins Arena (3,227)
Macon, GA
January 17, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Chattanooga L 60–74  8–10
(1–4) 		Hawkins Arena (1,872)
Macon, GA
January 20, 2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Samford L 80–87  8–11
(1–5) 		Pete Hanna Center (2,516)
Homewood, AL
January 24, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at The Citadel L 66–68  8–12
(1–6) 		McAlister Field House (1,283)
Charleston, SC
January 27, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at UNC Greensboro W 70–64  9–12
(2–6) 		Greensboro Coliseum (1,686)
Greensboro, NC
January 31, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		East Tennessee State L 49–54  9–13
(2–7) 		Hawkins Arena (2,163)
Macon, GA
February 3, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		VMI W 90–69  10–13
(3–7) 		Hawkins Arena (2,438)
Macon, GA
February 7, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Furman W 78–69  11–13
(4–7) 		Hawkins Arena (1,989)
Macon, GA
February 10, 2024
4:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at West Carolina L 46–79  11–14
(4–8) 		Ramsey Center (2,588)
Cullowhee, NC
February 14, 2023
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Wofford L 60–73  11–15
(4–9) 		Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium (1,762)
Spartanburg, SC
February 17, 2024
2:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		Samford W 88–84  12–15
(5–9) 		Hawkins Arena (2,901)
Macon, GA
February 21, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		The Citadel W 87–78  13–15
(6–9) 		Hawkins Arena (1,514)
Macon, GA
February 24, 2024
4:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		UNC Greensboro W 86–72  14–15
(7–9) 		Hawkins Arena (2,772)
Macon, GA
February 28, 2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Chattanooga L 75–84  14–16
(7–10) 		McKenzie Arena (3,054)
Chattanooga, TN
March 2, 2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Furman W 82–75  15–16
(8–10) 		Timmons Arena (2,457)
Greenville, SC
SoCon tournament
March 8, 2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		(8) vs. (9) The Citadel
First round 		W 84–76  16–16
 Harrah's Cherokee Center 
Asheville, NC
March 9, 2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		(8) vs. (1) Samford
Quarterfinals 		L 57–70  16–17
 Harrah's Cherokee Center 
Asheville, NC
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern.

Sources:[8][9]

References

  1. ^ "SoCon | Men's Basketball | 2024 Standings". Southern Conference. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  2. ^ Jones, Makenzie (2024-03-08). "Big Offensive Day Leads Bears Past The Citadel". Mercer University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  3. ^ "Mercer Falls To Samford In Southern Conference Quarterfinals". Mercer University Athletics. 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  4. ^ McGouirk, Brandon (2024-03-11). "Bears bid farewell as Mercer's Coach Gary not to return next basketball season". WGXA. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  5. ^ "Men's College Basketball Standings - 2022-23 Southern Conference Standings". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  6. ^ Cover, Amanda (2023-03-03). "Bears Roll Past The Citadel in Tournament Opener". Mercer University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  7. ^ Cover, Amanda (2023-03-04). "Mercer Succumbs to Furman Second-Half Comeback". Mercer University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  8. ^ "2023-24 Men's Basketball Schedule". Mercer University Athletics. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  9. ^ "2023-24 Mercer Bears Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved November 25, 2023.