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Mercer Bears vs East Tennessee State Buccaneers

College Basketball
Mercer
8-7
71-77
Final
ETSU
10-5
Freedom Hall (TN)

Lead tracker

MER leadsBiggest lead MER 6, ETSU 12
H1H2
ETSU leads
Team1H2HT
MER353671
ETSU324577

Who won: ETSU 77-71

The East Tennessee State Buccaneers beat the Mercer Bears 77-71 on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at Freedom Hall (TN). The ETSU outscored the Mercer 45-36 in the 2nd half. Brian Taylor II led the ETSU in points (21). Brady Shoulders led the Mercer in points (21).

Player of the game

Brady Shoulders

MER · 21 PTS, 8 REB

8.2

Win probability

100%ETSU final
MERETSU

Tap or hover the line to see the play. Dots mark the biggest swings.

Play by play

  1. End of Game
  2. End of 2nd half
  3. H2 0:00Maki Johnson

    Defensive rebound

    Maki Johnson Defensive Rebound.

  4. H2 0:02Quinton Perkins II

    Misses 22-foot three point jumper

    Quinton Perkins II misses 22-foot three point jumper

    Q. Perkins II · 8 PTS

  5. H2 0:03Quinton Perkins II

    Offensive Rebound

    Quinton Perkins II Offensive Rebound.

    Q. Perkins II · 8 PTS

  6. H2 0:06Zaire Williams

    Misses 26-foot three point jumper

    Zaire Williams misses 26-foot three point jumper

    Z. Williams · 13 PTS

  7. H2 0:14Blake Barkley
    +1

    Makes free throw 2 of 2

    Blake Barkley makes free throw 2 of 2

    B. Barkley · 19 PTS

    MER 71 - 77 ETSU
  8. H2 0:14Blake Barkley
    +1

    Makes free throw 1 of 2

    Blake Barkley makes free throw 1 of 2

    B. Barkley · 19 PTS

    MER 71 - 76 ETSU
  9. H2 0:14Brady Shoulders

    Foul on Brady Shoulders

    Foul on Brady Shoulders.

    B. Shoulders · 21 PTS

  10. H2 0:14Blake Barkley

    Defensive rebound

    Blake Barkley Defensive Rebound.

  11. H2 0:15Baraka Okojie

    Misses 28-foot three point jumper

    Baraka Okojie misses 28-foot three point jumper

    B. Okojie · 15 PTS

  12. H2 0:22Brady Shoulders

    Defensive rebound

    Brady Shoulders Defensive Rebound.

  13. H2 0:24Allen Strothers

    Misses free throw 2 of 2

    Allen Strothers misses free throw 2 of 2

    A. Strothers · 1 PTS

  14. H2 0:24Allen Strothers
    +1

    Makes free throw 1 of 2

    Allen Strothers makes free throw 1 of 2

    A. Strothers · 1 PTS

    MER 71 - 75 ETSU
  15. H2 0:24Zaire Williams

    Foul on Zaire Williams

    Foul on Zaire Williams.

    Z. Williams · 13 PTS

  16. H2 0:24Baraka Okojie
    +2

    Layup

    Baraka Okojie makes layup

    B. Okojie · 15 PTS

    MER 71 - 74 ETSU
  17. H2 0:25Baraka Okojie

    Steal

    Baraka Okojie Steal.

    B. Okojie · 15 PTS

  18. H2 0:25Maki Johnson
    TO

    Bad pass turnover

    Maki Johnson bad pass turnover

    M. Johnson · 6 PTS

  19. H2 0:29Baraka Okojie
    +1

    Makes free throw 2 of 2

    Baraka Okojie makes free throw 2 of 2

    B. Okojie · 15 PTS

    MER 69 - 74 ETSU
  20. H2 0:29Baraka Okojie
    +1

    Makes free throw 1 of 2

    Baraka Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2

    B. Okojie · 15 PTS

    MER 68 - 74 ETSU
  21. H2 0:29Brian Taylor II

    Foul on Brian Taylor II

    Foul on Brian Taylor II.

    B. Taylor II · 21 PTS

  22. H2 0:34Brian Taylor II
    +1

    Makes free throw 2 of 2

    Brian Taylor II makes free throw 2 of 2

    B. Taylor II · 21 PTS

    MER 67 - 74 ETSU
  23. H2 0:34Brian Taylor II
    +1

    Makes free throw 1 of 2

    Brian Taylor II makes free throw 1 of 2

    B. Taylor II · 21 PTS

    MER 67 - 73 ETSU
  24. H2 0:34Zaire Williams

    Foul on Zaire Williams

    Foul on Zaire Williams.

    Z. Williams · 13 PTS

  25. H2 0:43MER

    Shorttimeout

    Mercer Timeout

Leaders

MERETSU
Points
Brady Shoulders
21
Brian Taylor II
21
Assists
Baraka Okojie
4
Brian Taylor II
2
Rebounds
Armani Mighty
9
Brian Taylor II
8

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