Mercer Game Information
Live Stats  |  Live Video (ESPN3)  |  Live Audio (The Zone, 98.5-FM / 1340-AM)  |  Game Notes

ETSU Game Information
Live Stats  |  Live Video (ESPN3)  |  Live Audio (ESPN Radio 94.7-FM / 910-AM)  |  Game Notes (Available after Mercer game)  |  Tickets

CHARLESTON, S.C. –The Citadel men's basketball team opens a tough stretch this weekend that will see the Bulldogs play four games over eight days, including three of the top four teams in the Southern Conference.

The Bulldogs will open the four-game stretch with a road game at Mercer on Saturday, Jan. 27 before returning home to face ETSU, the only remaining unbeaten team in SoCon play, on Monday, Jan. 29. Saturday's game at Mercer is slated for a 4 p.m. tipoff while Monday's home game against ETSU will feature a6 p.m. tipoff.

At halftime of Monday's home game with ETSU, the Southern Conference and The Citadel will recognize Dr. Robert Riggle and Kathleen Brown as members of the All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Team.

Heading into Saturday's game with Mercer (10-11, 3-5 SoCon), the Bears control the all-time series over the Bulldogs by a mark of 15-4 dating back to the 1924-25 season. In Macon, the Bears are 7-2 against The Citadel and since Mercer joined the SoCon, the record is 5-0 in favor of the Bears. The last Citadel win came on March 5, 1927 in Atlanta, Georgia when the Bulldogs defeated the Bears 42-41 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) Tournament. The last Bulldog win in Macon came on Feb. 10, 1927 when the 'Dogs won 50-15.

Mercer was picked by the league's coaches to win the SoCon this season, claiming four first-place votes and 71 points in the preseason coaches poll. However, the media poll pegged the Bears sixth with two first-place votes and 154 total points. The Bears started the season by winning four of their first five games en route to posting a 7-6 non-conference record. Mercer then dropped the first three games of SoCon play before rattling off three straight conference wins. The Bears have dropped their last two games to UNCG and league front-runner, ETSU.

For the season, Mercer is averaging 75.9 points per game while holding their opponents to 68.0 points per contest. In SoCon games, the Bears' scoring has gone down to 67.6 points per outing while league opponents have been scoring 67.1 points per game. The Bears have connected on 47.0% (549-of-1168) of their attempts from the field while the opposition has converted 42.8% (487-of-1137) of their attempts. The Bears average 8.6 three-pointers per game and have been giving up 8.9 treys per outing. Under the basket Mercer is averaging 35.2 rebounds per contest while their foes have only brought down 29.7 per outing.

The Bears have been led to this point of the season by Ria'n Holland's 19.0 points per game, but the 6-0 senior guard has missed five games, including the last two. Holland is currently shooting 49.3% (100-of-203) from the field and still leads the team with 48 three-pointers and 27 steals despite missing the five contests. In six SoCon games, Holland has averaged 14.2 points per game. Behind Holland, Stephen Jelks has averaged 10.8 points per game, Demetre Rivers has averaged 10.3 points per outing, Desmond Ringer has scored 8.6 points per game and Jordan Strawberry has averaged 8.3 points per contest. Jelks leads the team with a56.6% (81-of-143) shooting percentage and is second on the team with 32 made three-pointers. He also leads the team with 7.9 rebounds per contest and 11 blocks. Ringer is second on the team with 5.0 boards per contest and in shooting, connecting on 56.1% (69-of-123) of his attempts from the field. Jelks, Ringer and Strawberry have started every game this season for the Bears while Rivers has started in 20 games. Ethan Stair has started when Holland has been out.

Heading into Monday's game at McAlister Field House, ETSU (17-4, 8-0 SoCon) controls the all-time series record with a 42-16 record over The Citadel dating back to the 1961-62 season. The Buccaneers have won the last four games in the series with the last Bulldog win coming back on Feb. 26, 2015 when The Citadel claimed a 74-73 win at home. In Charleston, the record stands 13-10 in favor of the Bucs.

Heading into this weekend, the Buccaneers are riding an 11-game winning streak that dates back to Tuesday, Dec. 19. The Bucs are averaging 77.0 points per game while holding foes to just 65.2 points per contest, a +11.8 scoring margin. In conference play, ETSU is averaging 77.2 points per game with their foes only managing 60.6 points per outing for a +16.6 scoring margin. Overall, the Bucs are second in the conference with a 47.8% (576-of-1206) shooting percentage, but they lead the league by holding opponents to a shooting percentage of 40.1% (481-of-1199). The Buccaneers average 7.6 rebounds, 36.9 rebounds, 8.1 steals and 13.2 turnovers per game on the year.

Desonta Bradford leads the team with 14.0 points per game in 31.6 minutes per outing. He is currently shooting at a .457 (100-of-219) clip and leads the team by averaging 5.6 rebounds per contest to go along with 35 steals. Just behind him is Jalan McCloud, averaging 12.4 points per game while hitting on 48.1% (90-of-187) of his attempts from the field. Devontavius Payne has mostly come off the bench this season, but leads the team with 42 made three-pointers while averaging 9.5 points per contest. Bo Hodges and Peter Jurkin have chipped in 8.9 and 8.2 points per game with Jurkin second on the team in rebounding as he averages 5.2 boards per contest. Jurkin leads the team with 27 blocks on the year. Bradford and McCloud lead the team with 77 and 76 assists, respectively. Bradford is the only Buc to have started every game for ETSU while David Burrell has started 20 contests. Jurkin and Jermaine Long have each started 19 games and McCloud has started 15 contests.

UP NEXT
Following Monday's game against ETSU, the Bulldogs will continue the three-game homestand with games against Wofford and Furman. The Citadel will first host the Terriers on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. and will then host the Paladins on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. The Furman game next Saturday will feature a special recognition for Pat Conroy at halftime and is being billed as STEM and Faith and Family Day.

2018 SOCON BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 SoCon Basketabll Championships held at the U.S. Cellular Center located in Asheville, North Carolina. The tournament runs March 1-5, 2018. Ticket prices start at $10 for kids (ages 6-12) and SoCon students (kids 5 and under get in free) and $20 for general admission to a single session. Other packages, including VIP experiences and suites, are also available. For more information or to order your tickets, call The Citadel ticket office at (843) 953-DOGS (3647) or visit CitadelSports.com and click on the "Tickets" tab.

For more information on The Citadel basketball team, follow @CitadelHoops and @CitadelSports or visit CitadelSports.com.