Mercer beats Western Carolina for 3rd straight win

MACON, Ga. (AP) — Desmond Ringer and Ria'n Holland each finished with 16 points and Mercer won its third straight to reach the .500 mark in Southern Conference play with a 62-47 win over Western Carolina on Monday night.

Mercer now sits at 5-5 in league play after a 2-5 start.

Jordan Strawberry added nine points and four assists for the Bears (11-12, 5-5), who shot 48.9 percent and won the rebounding battle by six (33-27).

Adam Sledd was the only Catamount to finish in double-figures, scoring 10 points. Western Carolina (7-16, 2-8) shot just 33.3 percent overall and 19 percent from deep. It is the sixth time the Catamounts have been held below 50 points this season.

Mercer led 23-22 at halftime, but opened the second on a 19-4 stretch to take a 42-27 lead. A Strawberry 3-pointer with 9:01 left extended the lead beyond 20 and the Bears cruised down the stretch.