Florence scores 22 points and Mercer beats East Tennessee State for the first time, 83-78

Mercer defeats East Tennessee State 83-78

MACON, Ga. — James Florence scored 22 points and Mercer beat East Tennessee State 83-78 on Saturday, the first win in nine series meetings for the Bears.

Jeff Smith added 17 points, E.J. Kusnyer had 15 and Daniel Emerson 13 for the Bears (8-8, 4-2 Atlantic Sun Conference), who have won four straight games.

The Bears led 73-53 with 4:42 remaining in the game, but the Buccaneers went on a 25-10 run the rest of the way.

Strong shooting kept Mercer in front, especially in the second half. The Bears were 7 of 13 from 3-point range (53.8 percent) in the second half and were 12-for-28 (42.9 percent) for the game from behind the arc.

Mercer shot 49.1 percent from the field (27-for-55).

Sheldon Coley had a game-high 29 points for the Buccaneers (8-8, 4-1). He made 11 of 22 field goal attempts and was 6-for-8 from the foul line. Micah Williams added 18 points and Justin Tubbs had 12.