GAME THREAD: Mercer @ FAU - December 5, 2018
Owls return to The Burrow to take on a struggling Mercer squad.
What: Mercer (4-4) vs. Florida Atlantic (6-2)
When: Wednesday, December 5th, @ 7:00 PM Eastern
Where: FAU Arena
Series: The Bears and Owls have evenly split their previous 20 meetings.
TV: None
Live Video: CUSA.tv *FEE
Radio: ESPN 106.3
Mercer Team Site: Here
Mercer at a Glance:
Offense - 77.8 PPG, 45% FG, 32% 3PT
Defense - 64.1 PPGA, 39% FGA, 32% 3PTA
Rebounding - 38.9 RPG Bears, 34.5 RPG Opponents
Notables
The Mercer Bears will bring their 4-4 record to the Burrow this Wednesday in hopes to snap a recent 0-2 skid vs. D1 opponents. While MU no longer carries the quality they possessed to upset Duke in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, Head Coach Bob Hoffman has turned Mercer into a perennial postseason program.
Mercer's small-ball style of play may lack a strong leader in points and rebounding, but that is not because of a lack of talent. Their backcourt is led by Ross Cummings (SG, #20), who leads the team in PPG with 14.9, including a 43% 3FG percentage. Not far behind is Serbian Djordje Dimitrijevic (PG, #0) with 13.8 PPG and an impressive 31 total assists on the year. Along the boards, Ethan Stair (G, #22) leads the team in rebounds with 6.5 RPG. That fact that a guard leads the team in rebounds shows how much Hoffman relies on the ever-growing small-ball style of basketball.
FAU at a Glance
Offense - 79 PPG, 45% FG, 33% 3PT
Defense - 69 PPGA, 43% FGA, 33% 3PTA
Rebounding - 39.9 RPG Owls, 32.6 RPG Opponents
Notables
It was bound to happen sooner-or-later: With the absence of PF Xavian Stapleton, the Owls dropped their first game in five tries. Career scoring highs from Jailyn Ingram and Anthony Adger was not enough to hold FAU's comeback against Bethune-Cookman.
Look for Head Coach Dusty May to exploit Mercer's smaller lineup. While it is unknown if PF Stapleton will return from his knee injury in time for the contest, expect all of FAU's big men to have better than average days, including Ingram.
Latest Line: FAU -2
HOPE I am wrong.
We're 30 minutes away from #FAU and #Mercer tipping-off at The Burrow. Students in attendance will receive this festive "ugly sweater" themed t-shirt.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 5, 2018
What a time to be alive. pic.twitter.com/csDHP0AlWk
Head Coach Dusty May is making some changes to tonight's starting five. #FAU's line-up vs. #Mercer:
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 5, 2018
PG - Anthony Adger
SG - Richardson Maitre
SF - Jayleen Sebree
PF - Jailyn Ingram
C - Karlis Silins
Looks like Ingram will shift to the #4, Maitre & Sebree earn their first starts
11:45 1H | #FAU 10 - #Mercer 8
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 6, 2018
UGLY UGLY UGLY GAME thus far. Ingram has FIVE turnovers already. We know this is the season for giving, but my goodness....
7:20 1H | #FAU 18 - #Mercer 13
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 6, 2018
Owls have converted 4 of their last 6 FGs, improving FAU's shooting to 50%. But seven turnovers prevent the Owls from stretching their lead anymore.
2:40 1H | #FAU 25 - #Mercer 19
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 6, 2018
Owls are shooting an abysmal 22% from three. Thankfully, the Bears haven't converted a single three-pointer despite seven attempts.
HALFTIME | #FAU 29 - #Mercer 19
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 6, 2018
Owls wake up in the final few minutes of the half, especially Jailyn Ingram who leads all scorers with 10 points. The Forward from Georgia missed his first shot of the contest at the halftime buzzer.
15:49 2H | #FAU 35 - #Mercer 25
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 6, 2018
Owls match their largest lead of the day via a jumper from Ingram and a pair of Maitre layups. Silins comes off the court as he commits his third foul of the game.
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