Mercer Bears Defeat East Tennessee State Buccaneers 82-76
Saturday, February 28, 2026, 4:30 PM ET · Hawkins Arena
Mercer Bears 82, East Tennessee State Buccaneers 76, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won East Tennessee State Buccaneers vs Mercer Bears?
Mercer Bears beat East Tennessee State Buccaneers 82-76 at Hawkins Arena on February 28, 2026.
Who was favored in East Tennessee State Buccaneers vs Mercer Bears?
Mercer Bears were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -125 (about 56% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Mercer Bears emerged victorious against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers with a final score of 82-76. This game, held at Hawkins Arena, showcased the Bears' resilience and ability to perform under pressure, particularly as they had previously struggled against the Buccaneers in their last three meetings. With this win, Mercer improved its overall record to 20-12, while East Tennessee State fell to 21-11.
Mercer entered the game with a mixed record of 5-5 in their last ten outings, having lost their previous game against the Western Carolina Catamounts on February 26. The Bears averaged 78.3 points scored per game while allowing 76.2 points over that stretch. Their recent form included a notable home record of 4-1, indicating a strong performance on their home court, though they had struggled away with a 1-4 record.
On the other hand, the Buccaneers had a more favorable recent record of 7-3, averaging 79.9 points scored and allowing 71.7 points during their last ten games. However, they were coming off a loss to the Wofford Terriers on February 26, which may have impacted their momentum. East Tennessee State had a balanced record of 3-3 at home and a perfect 4-0 away record leading into this game.
Historically, the matchup favored East Tennessee State, as they had won all three previous meetings against Mercer in the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The most recent encounter on January 3, 2026, saw the Buccaneers win 77-71, further adding to the Bears' motivation to break the streak.
In terms of player availability, no specific injuries were mentioned in the provided facts, allowing both teams to field their full rosters for this crucial game. The betting market, as listed by DraftKings, had Mercer as a slight favorite with a spread of -1.5 and a moneyline of -125. East Tennessee State was priced at +105 on the moneyline, reflecting the competitive nature of the matchup. The total points line was set at 149.5, indicating expectations for a high-scoring game.
The game conditions were conducive for a thrilling encounter, with both teams looking to secure a vital win as the season neared its conclusion. Fans were treated to a showcase of skill and determination, culminating in a series of late-game scoring plays that sealed the Bears' victory. Notably, Baraka Okojie contributed significantly to the final moments, making crucial free throws that helped Mercer maintain their lead.
As the game progressed, the Bears demonstrated their ability to execute under pressure, particularly in the final minutes. With scoring plays that included a mix of free throws and jump shots, Mercer managed to keep the Buccaneers at bay, ensuring their home crowd left Hawkins Arena satisfied with the outcome. The victory not only boosted Mercer's confidence but also showcased their ability to overcome past defeats against a formidable opponent.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MER -1.5 | 149.5 o -112 / u -108 | East Tennessee State Buccaneers +105 · Mercer Bears -125 |
Leaders
- PointsZaire Williams23Mercer Bears
- AssistsBaraka Okojie8Mercer Bears
- ReboundsArmani Mighty13Mercer Bears
- PointsBlake Barkley16East Tennessee State Buccaneers
- AssistsAllen Strothers5East Tennessee State Buccaneers
- ReboundsCam Morris III11East Tennessee State Buccaneers
Recent form
Mercer Bears
Last 10: 5-5Streak L178.3 scored · 76.2 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L74-78at Western Carolina CatamountsFeb 26
- W89-86vs Samford BulldogsFeb 21
- L90-94vs Chattanooga MocsFeb 20
- W70-54at The Citadel BulldogsFeb 14
- W69-64vs Furman PaladinsFeb 12
- L49-69at Samford BulldogsFeb 7
- L75-79at Chattanooga MocsFeb 6
- W95-81vs VMI KeydetsJan 31
- W95-77vs UNC Greensboro SpartansJan 30
- L77-80at Wofford TerriersJan 24
East Tennessee State Buccaneers
Last 10: 7-3Streak L179.9 scored · 71.7 allowed per game4-0 away
- L69-72vs Wofford TerriersFeb 26
- W87-75at UNC Greensboro SpartansFeb 21
- W78-69at Furman PaladinsFeb 18
- L72-82vs Samford BulldogsFeb 14
- W73-61vs Chattanooga MocsFeb 12
- W87-70at VMI KeydetsFeb 7
- W75-71vs Furman PaladinsFeb 5
- W86-72at Wofford TerriersFeb 2
- L88-90vs Western Carolina CatamountsJan 30
- W84-55vs The Citadel BulldogsJan 24
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State | 23-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Mercer | 19-13 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Wofford | 19-13 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Samford | 18-14 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Furman | 22-13 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Western Carolina | 15-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| UNC Greensboro | 15-19 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Chattanooga | 13-19 | 6 | 7-11 |
| The Citadel | 11-22 | 6 | 7-11 |
| VMI | 6-26 | 12 | 1-17 |
Box score
| Stat | East Tennessee State Buccaneers | Mercer Bears |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-62 | 24-47 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 9-24 | 11-21 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 52 |
| Free throws | 11-14 | 23-36 |
| Free throw % | 79 | 64 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 23 |
| Assists | 13 | 15 |
| Steals | 8 | 6 |
| Blocks | 2 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 9 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 1 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 22 |
| Fouls | 23 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 17 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 98 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half40-52Baraka Okojie makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half42-52Blake Barkley makes layup (Cam Morris III assists)
- 2nd Half43-52Blake Barkley makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half43-55Zaire Williams makes 24-foot three point jumper (Armani Mighty assists)
- 2nd Half43-58Zaire Williams makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half43-60Armani Mighty makes layup (Baraka Okojie assists)
- 2nd Half45-60Cam Morris III makes layup (Brian Taylor II assists)
- 2nd Half45-61Connor Serven makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-62Connor Serven makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-62Isaiah Sutherland makes 25-foot three point jumper (Maki Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half51-62Isaiah Sutherland makes 25-foot three point jumper (Blake Barkley assists)
- 2nd Half54-62Isaiah Sutherland makes 24-foot three point jumper (Allen Strothers assists)
- 2nd Half54-64Armani Mighty makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half55-64Jordan McCullum makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-64Jordan McCullum makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-65Kyle Cuffe Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-65Jaylen Smith makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half59-66Baraka Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-67Baraka Okojie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-67Jaylen Smith makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half63-67Cam Morris III makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half63-68Baraka Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-69Baraka Okojie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-69Brian Taylor II makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-72Quinton Perkins II makes 23-foot three point jumper (Baraka Okojie assists)
- 2nd Half67-72Blake Barkley makes 8-foot alley oop dunk (Allen Strothers assists)
- 2nd Half69-72Blake Barkley makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half69-74Zaire Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half71-74Blake Barkley makes layup
- 2nd Half73-74Blake Barkley makes layup
- 2nd Half73-75Kyle Cuffe Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-75Blake Barkley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-76Baraka Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-78Zaire Williams makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half74-79Baraka Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-80Baraka Okojie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-80Maki Johnson makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half76-80Maki Johnson makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half76-81Baraka Okojie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-82Connor Serven makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Mercer Bears, below favours East Tennessee State Buccaneers.
Venue
- Hawkins ArenaMacon, GA
- Attendance2317
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond