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. The Bears have appeared three times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2014. At the 2014 NCAA tournament, Mercer pulled off an upset, eliminating #3 seeded Duke from the tournament in a 78-71 victory.
History Mercer has competed in the NCAA tournament three times, including 1981 and 1985; the team lost in the first round in both years. 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.
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.
Coaching history
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.
1981 First round Arkansas L 67–73 1985 First round Georgia Tech L 58–65 2014 First RoundSecond Round DukeTennessee 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.
1972 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game RoanokeFlorida Southern L 72–78L 83–85
NIT results The Bears have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 1–1. 2013 First roundSecond Round TennesseeBYU W 75–67L 71–90
CBI results The Bears have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) two times. Their combined record is 2–2.
2015 First roundQuarterfinals Stony BrookLouisiana–Monroe W 72–70L 69–71 2018 First roundQuarterfinals Grand CanyonNorth Texas W 78–73L 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. 2012 First roundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals Tennessee StateGeorgia StateOld DominionFairfieldUtah State W 68–60W 64–59W 79–73W 64–59W 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.
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.
1922 Semifinals Wabash L 25–62
Players
Retired numbers Mercer has retired six numbers in program history.
Mercer Bears retired numbers No.PlayerYears 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
External links