The Mercer Bears secured a 70-54 win over The Citadel Bulldogs, with Baraka Okojie leading the charge with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Okojie's impressive performance helped Mercer improve to 17-10 on the season, while The Citadel dropped to 9-18. The Bears outscored The Citadel 52-29 in the second half, erasing an early 7-point deficit. Mercer's 16-point margin of victory exceeded the predicted margin of 13.3 points, as forecasted by the CHD Scout model.
Baraka Okojie's 22 Points, 5 Rebounds, and 6 Assists Lead Mercer to Victory
The game got off to a slow start for Mercer, as they trailed 25-18 at halftime. However, the Bears came out strong in the second half, outscoring The Citadel 52-29. Baraka Okojie's 22 points paced Mercer, while Braxton Williams led The Citadel with 17 points. The Citadel's Christian Moore added 15 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Mercer's second-half surge. The Bears' 52 points in the second half accounted for 74% of their total scoring output, highlighting their impressive turnaround. Mercer's Armani Mighty chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Bears dominate the glass with a 37-29 rebounding margin.
Baraka Okojie's 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists made him the standout performer for Mercer. Quinton Perkins II added 13 points for the Bears, while Armani Mighty contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds. For The Citadel, Braxton Williams led the way with 17 points, followed by Christian Moore's 15 points. Carter Kingsbury chipped in with 7 points and 11 rebounds for The Citadel, but it wasn't enough to overcome Mercer's balanced attack. Okojie's 6 assists were a game-high, and his 22 points accounted for 31% of Mercer's total scoring output.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
Mercer's 52 points in the second half were the most they've scored in a half this season, accounting for 74% of their total scoring output. The Bears shot 51% from the field in the second half, including 5-10 from three-point range. The Citadel, on the other hand, shot just 32% from the field in the second half, including 2-10 from three-point range. Mercer's 37-29 rebounding margin was a key factor in their victory, with Armani Mighty's 10 rebounds leading the way. The Citadel's Braxton Williams scored 17 points, but his 6-15 shooting from the field was a microcosm of The Citadel's struggles on offense.
The CHD Scout model predicted a Mercer victory by 13.3 points, and the Bears delivered with a 16-point win. The model correctly forecasted the outcome, but underestimated the margin of victory. Mercer's second-half surge was a key factor in exceeding the predicted margin, as they outscored The Citadel 52-29. The CHD Scout model has been accurate in predicting Mercer's performances this season, with a 75% success rate in forecasting the Bears' outcomes. In this game, the model correctly identified Baraka Okojie as a key performer, and his 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists were a major factor in Mercer's victory.
This win was a Quadrant 4 victory for Mercer, as The Citadel is ranked 348 in the NET rankings. The loss was a Quadrant 3 defeat for The Citadel, as Mercer is ranked 156 in the NET rankings. The Citadel's NET ranking is likely to drop further, given their 9-18 record and struggles against top-tier opponents. Mercer's win improves their resume, but they still have work to do to secure a strong postseason seeding. The Bears' 17-10 record and 156 NET ranking put them in a solid position, but they need to continue winning to build momentum heading into the postseason.
Mercer's next game is against the Wofford Terriers on February 17, while The Citadel takes on the VMI Keydets on February 18. Both games matters in determining the teams' postseason fates, as they look to build momentum heading into the conference tournament. Mercer want to build on their 16-point victory, while The Citadel will try to bounce back from their disappointing loss.