ASHEVILLE, NC – The Citadel basketball team cut a 10-point halftime deficit to three early in the second half, but the Mercer University Bears responded every time the Bulldogs got within striking distance, defeating The Citadel 84-76 in The SoCon Basketball Championships First Round.
Madison Durr led the Bulldogs with a career-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor.
Quentin Millora-Brown earned his 16
th double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 boards to go along with three blocks and three steals.
Elijah Morgan helped ignite a rally late, finishing with 18 points as
AJ Smith chipped in 12.
First Half:
- Keynan Davis' wing three gave CIT an early 5-0 edge but MER answered with a 10-2 run to take a 10-7 lead. Morgan's bucket halted the spurt at 10-9 Bears five minutes into the contest.
- A hit from beyond the arc by Colby McAllister put CIT back ahead 13-12, at the 12:36 mark but MER responded on the ensuing possession with a bucket and-1.
- After the under-12 timeout, the Bears ripped off a 7-0 run in 45 seconds to open a seven-point differential, 22-15. Timeout CIT.
- QMB found Smith for CIT's third triple of the game to trim the margin to two, 22-20, but once again MER responded with a 5-0 spurt to hold a 27-20 advantage at the under-8 timeout.
- Durr's and-1 cut the margin to six, 31-25, but CIT endured a 3:18 stretch without a field goal, heading into the half trailing MER 37-27.
Second Half:
- CIT started the second half on a 6-0 run to pull within four, 37-33, as MER had to talk things over.
- Durr's breakaway layup cut it to three, 42-39, but the Bears scored the next five to extend the margin back to eight, 47-39. Timeout Bulldogs.
- A MER 3-pointer stretched the differential to double digits, 54-43, at the 12:16 mark.
- QMB's put-back dunk trimmed the margin to five, 54-49, but once again MER responded with a 7-0 run to push the lead back to double figures, 61-49, halfway through the second half.
- Another Bears make from long range held the difference at 13, 69-56, with 5-and change left.
- The Bulldogs got as close as six, 79-73, with 1:06 remaining as they continually made baskets to put pressure on the Bears however, they'd make their free throws in the closing seconds to hold off any comeback chance.