NCAAB · Final

Mercer Bears Dominate The Citadel Bulldogs 101-63

101

Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Hawkins Arena

Mercer Bears 101, The Citadel Bulldogs 63, 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 The Citadel Bulldogs vs Mercer Bears?

Mercer Bears beat The Citadel Bulldogs 101-63 at Hawkins Arena on January 7, 2026.

Who was favored in The Citadel Bulldogs vs Mercer Bears?

Mercer Bears were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1650 (about 94% implied). The favorite won.

In a commanding display, the Mercer Bears triumphed over The Citadel Bulldogs with a final score of 101-63 at Hawkins Arena. This matchup highlighted Mercer's strong home performance, as they improved their home record to 5-5 in their last ten games, while The Citadel continues to struggle, now sitting at 1-9 in their last ten outings. The Bears' scoring average of 81.3 points per game over their last ten games was evident as they surpassed that mark comfortably in this contest.

Mercer entered the game with a record of 9-7, while The Citadel's record stood at a disappointing 3-13. The Bears have shown resilience at home, boasting a 4-0 record in their last four home games. However, they had been on a two-game losing streak prior to this victory, having lost to East Tennessee State and Furman. In contrast, The Citadel has struggled significantly, currently on a five-game losing streak, with their last victory dating back to December 10 against Southern Wesleyan.

The scoring averages reflect the teams' contrasting fortunes, with Mercer averaging 81.3 points scored and 70.3 points allowed in their last ten games, while The Citadel has averaged just 64.9 points scored and 76.5 points allowed. This disparity was evident throughout the game, as Mercer established a commanding lead early on and maintained it throughout the contest.

In terms of previous meetings, Mercer has had the upper hand against The Citadel, winning both encounters in the 2025 season. The Bears defeated the Bulldogs 80-46 at home on January 30, 2025, and followed that with a 62-52 victory on February 20, 2025. This trend continued in their latest meeting, where Mercer showcased their dominance once again.

Injury reports did not indicate any significant absences affecting either team for this matchup, allowing both squads to field their regular lineups. This factor contributed to the expected outcome, as Mercer was heavily favored in the betting market. DraftKings listed the Bears as 16.5-point favorites, with a moneyline of -1650 for Mercer and +950 for The Citadel. The total for the game was set at 147.5, indicating expectations for a high-scoring affair, which ultimately came to fruition with Mercer exceeding that total on their own.

The conditions at Hawkins Arena were favorable for basketball, with a lively crowd supporting the home team. Viewers were treated to a showcase of offensive prowess from Mercer, particularly in the second half, where they scored a flurry of points to pull away decisively. Key plays included a series of three-pointers and layups that highlighted the Bears' offensive efficiency.

As the game progressed, Mercer’s ability to stretch the lead became apparent, with notable contributions from players like Armani Mighty and Jaydon Cole, who both made significant scoring plays in the second half. The Citadel struggled to keep pace, unable to match Mercer's scoring output and defensive intensity.

Overall, the game served as a testament to Mercer's strength at home and The Citadel's ongoing challenges this season. With this victory, Mercer solidifies their position in the league, while The Citadel will need to regroup and address their shortcomings as they look to improve their record moving forward.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	MER -16.5	147.5 o -108 / u -112	The Citadel Bulldogs +950 · Mercer Bears -1650

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Leaders

PointsArmani Mighty18Mercer Bears
AssistsBaraka Okojie5Mercer Bears
ReboundsArmani Mighty11Mercer Bears
PointsLogan Applegate16The Citadel Bulldogs
AssistsEze Wali4The Citadel Bulldogs
ReboundsLogan Applegate3The Citadel Bulldogs

Recent form

Mercer Bears

Last 10: 5-5Streak L281.3 scored · 70.3 allowed per game4-0 at home

L71-77at East Tennessee State BuccaneersJan 3
L72-74at Furman PaladinsDec 31
W122-49vs Baptist (Fl) EaglesDec 28
L78-84at Washington State CougarsDec 20
L63-81at UCF KnightsDec 18
L63-70at Clemson TigersDec 13
W100-50vs Oglethorpe Stormy PetrelsDec 7
W78-67vs Georgia State PanthersDec 3
W91-84at Elon PhoenixNov 29
W75-67vs App State MountaineersNov 26

The Citadel Bulldogs

Last 10: 1-9Streak L564.9 scored · 76.5 allowed per game0-4 away

L86-95vs Wofford TerriersJan 3
L49-74vs East Tennessee State BuccaneersDec 30
L56-80at Richmond SpidersDec 20
L78-82at Charleston CougarsDec 18
L55-71at South Carolina GamecocksDec 14
W98-73vs Southern Wesleyan WarriorsDec 10
L63-79at Davidson WildcatsDec 5
L41-69vs Presbyterian Blue HoseNov 30
L65-72vs Houston Christian HuskiesNov 27
L58-70vs Bellarmine KnightsNov 25

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	The Citadel Bulldogs	Mercer Bears
Field goals	22-50	34-58
Field goal %	44	59
Three-pointers	10-26	15-28
Three-point %	38	54
Free throws	9-12	18-20
Free throw %	75	90
Rebounds	22	31
Offensive rebounds	9	12
Defensive rebounds	13	19
Assists	10	16
Steals	6	9
Blocks	4	3
Turnovers	18	11
Team turnovers	0	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	1
Points off turnovers	9	25
Fast-break points	7	14
Points in the paint	22	32
Fouls	16	14
Largest lead	0	41
Lead changes	0	0
Time in front	0	99

How the scoring went

1st Half31-54Baraka Okojie makes 25-foot three point jumper
2nd Half34-54Braxton Williams makes 23-foot three point jumper (Logan Applegate assists)
2nd Half35-54Braxton Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half36-54Braxton Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half36-56Armani Mighty makes layup
2nd Half38-56Braxton Williams makes 0-foot tip in dunk
2nd Half38-58Brady Shoulders makes layup
2nd Half38-59Brady Shoulders makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half38-62Zaire Williams makes 25-foot three point jumper
2nd Half41-62Logan Applegate makes 26-foot three point jumper (Christian Moore assists)
2nd Half41-64Armani Mighty makes layup
2nd Half44-64Christian Moore makes 28-foot three point jumper (Eze Wali assists)
2nd Half46-64Simeon German makes layup
2nd Half46-66Tristan Gross makes layup
2nd Half48-66Simeon German makes 1-foot dunk (Braxton Williams assists)
2nd Half48-67Quinton Perkins II makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half48-68Quinton Perkins II makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half48-69Baraka Okojie makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half48-72Quinton Perkins II makes 24-foot three point jumper (Baraka Okojie assists)
2nd Half48-74Tristan Gross makes 7-foot hook shot (Armani Mighty assists)
2nd Half48-76Connor Serven makes layup (Quinton Perkins II assists)
2nd Half49-76Simeon German makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half49-78Armani Mighty makes layup (Zaire Williams assists)
2nd Half49-81Zaire Williams makes 24-foot three point jumper
2nd Half49-84Bendji Pierre makes 25-foot three point jumper (Zaire Williams assists)
2nd Half51-84Logan Applegate makes 0-foot tip in layup
2nd Half51-87Tristan Gross makes 25-foot three point jumper (Quinton Perkins II assists)
2nd Half51-89Kyle Cuffe Jr. makes layup (Baraka Okojie assists)
2nd Half51-90Kyle Cuffe Jr. makes free throw 1 of 1
2nd Half54-90Dante Kearse makes 24-foot three point jumper (Eze Wali assists)
2nd Half54-91Kyle Cuffe Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
2nd Half54-92Kyle Cuffe Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
2nd Half54-94Baraka Okojie makes 13-foot step back jumpshot
2nd Half57-94Christian Moore makes 29-foot three point jumper (Eze Wali assists)
2nd Half57-96Armani Mighty makes layup (Brady Shoulders assists)
2nd Half60-96Logan Applegate makes 28-foot three point jumper (Simeon German assists)
2nd Half60-98Armani Mighty makes 0-foot tip in layup
2nd Half60-101Jaydon Cole makes 25-foot three point jumper
2nd Half62-101Dante Kearse makes driving layup
2nd Half63-101Marcos Gonzales makes free throw 2 of 2