Mercer's strong performance on the road led to a convincing 77-67 win over Virginia Military Institute at Cameron Hall. The Bears' victory was fueled by a balanced attack, with multiple players contributing to the scoring effort. Brady Shoulders paced Mercer with 20 points and 6 rebounds, while Armani Mighty dominated the glass with 18 points and a staggering 25 rebounds.
The game got off to a competitive start, with Mercer taking a 36-33 lead into halftime. VMI's Linus Holmstrom kept his team within striking distance, scoring 10 of his 18 points in the first half. However, the Bears' offense proved too potent in the second half, as they outscored the Keydets 41-34 to secure the 10-point win.
Mercer's ability to control the tempo and limit VMI's scoring opportunities was a key factor in the game. The Keydets' TJ Johnson and Cal Liston provided some scoring punch, finishing with 15 and 12 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bears' balanced attack. Zaire Williams added 12 points and 5 rebounds for Mercer, helping to seal the win.
The outcome of this game was not unexpected, given the disparity in the teams' records and net rankings. Mercer, with a 13-8 record and a net ranking of 133, was favored to win against a VMI team that now stands at 6-15 with a net ranking of 355. The Bears' victory will likely have little impact on their tournament chances, but it does help to bolster their resume with a road win against a non-conference opponent.
For VMI, the loss represents a missed opportunity to secure a quality win and improve their tournament prospects. This game was classified as a Quadrant 3 opportunity for the Keydets, and the loss will likely drop them further down the rankings. On the other hand, Mercer's win falls into Quadrant 4, which carries less weight in terms of tournament implications.
As the season progresses, Mercer want to build on this win and continue to strengthen their resume. With a solid road victory under their belt, the Bears will aim to carry this momentum into their upcoming games and make a push for a tournament bid. For VMI, the focus will shift to regrouping and preparing for their next challenge, as they seek to bounce back from this loss and improve their chances of securing a postseason spot. The outcome of this game may not have significant tournament implications for either team, but it does highlight the Bears' potential and leaves the Keydets with work to do to turn their season around.