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

ETSU leads

Team	1H	2H	T
MER	35	36	71
ETSU	32	45	77

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

End of Game
End of 2nd half
H2 0:00
Defensive rebound
Maki Johnson Defensive Rebound.
H2 0:02
Misses 22-foot three point jumper
Quinton Perkins II misses 22-foot three point jumper
Q. Perkins II · 8 PTS
H2 0:03
Offensive Rebound
Quinton Perkins II Offensive Rebound.
Q. Perkins II · 8 PTS
H2 0:06
Misses 26-foot three point jumper
Zaire Williams misses 26-foot three point jumper
Z. Williams · 13 PTS
H2 0:14
+1
Makes free throw 2 of 2
Blake Barkley makes free throw 2 of 2
B. Barkley · 19 PTS
MER 71 - 77 ETSU
H2 0:14
+1
Makes free throw 1 of 2
Blake Barkley makes free throw 1 of 2
B. Barkley · 19 PTS
MER 71 - 76 ETSU
H2 0:14
Foul on Brady Shoulders
Foul on Brady Shoulders.
B. Shoulders · 21 PTS
H2 0:14
Defensive rebound
Blake Barkley Defensive Rebound.
H2 0:15
Misses 28-foot three point jumper
Baraka Okojie misses 28-foot three point jumper
B. Okojie · 15 PTS
H2 0:22
Defensive rebound
Brady Shoulders Defensive Rebound.
H2 0:24
Misses free throw 2 of 2
Allen Strothers misses free throw 2 of 2
A. Strothers · 1 PTS
H2 0:24
+1
Makes free throw 1 of 2
Allen Strothers makes free throw 1 of 2
A. Strothers · 1 PTS
MER 71 - 75 ETSU
H2 0:24
Foul on Zaire Williams
Foul on Zaire Williams.
Z. Williams · 13 PTS
H2 0:24
+2
Layup
Baraka Okojie makes layup
B. Okojie · 15 PTS
MER 71 - 74 ETSU
H2 0:25
Steal
Baraka Okojie Steal.
B. Okojie · 15 PTS
H2 0:25
TO
Bad pass turnover
Maki Johnson bad pass turnover
M. Johnson · 6 PTS
H2 0:29
+1
Makes free throw 2 of 2
Baraka Okojie makes free throw 2 of 2
B. Okojie · 15 PTS
MER 69 - 74 ETSU
H2 0:29
+1
Makes free throw 1 of 2
Baraka Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2
B. Okojie · 15 PTS
MER 68 - 74 ETSU
H2 0:29
Foul on Brian Taylor II
Foul on Brian Taylor II.
B. Taylor II · 21 PTS
H2 0:34
+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
H2 0:34
+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
H2 0:34
Foul on Zaire Williams
Foul on Zaire Williams.
Z. Williams · 13 PTS
H2 0:43MER
Shorttimeout
Mercer Timeout