14 days ago
A pair of local squads provided an unofficial tip-off to the college hoops season.
Mercer and Georgia College and State University met in an exhibition doubleheader as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
The women's squads opened play Thursday afternoon. In the last four meetings the two squads share a 2-2 record, with the Bobcats winning a year ago.
This time around the Mercer ladies jumped out to an early lead thanks to the play of senior preseason All-Conference pick LaToya Jackson. The Bears carried a 34-25 lead into the break, and cruised in a 80-63 win.
Freshman sharpshooter Lindsay Lowrie led the way for the Bears, finishing with 19 points on 7-12 shooting (5-9 from three point range). Jackson followed with 13, while backcourt-mate Courtney Ford had 12 pionts and 14 rebounds. The Bears shot 60% from the field in the second half, and 63.6% from deep.
Bobcat junior sharpshooter Mandi Dudish had 20 points to lead GCSU, including five three-pointers.
The men's squads followed in the nightcap. Mercer entered 5-0 against the Bobcats in regular season play, but hoped to avoid their second straight loss to GCSU after dropping last year's exhibition matchup.
Again the Bobcats got after the Bears early. Some early scoring from senior Jake Rios and tough interior play got GCSU out to an early lead. Mercer senior All-Confernce guard James Florence had just two points in the first half. Newcomer Jeff Smith carried Mercer in the first half, with 14 points. The Bobcats led after 20 minutes, 35-26.
Smith and Florence fed off each other in the second half, leading the Bears back. Florence found E.J. Kusnyer for a corner three-pointer, giving Mercer their first lead, 51-48 midway through the second half.
After surrendering a slim lead the Bobcats clawed back in the final seconds. Senior guard Graham Martin nailed a three pointer with 12.8 seconds left to make it 68-66. Down three in the final seconds, Ty Rowland's desparation three-ball drew left rim and bounced out.
The Bears completed the sweep of GCSU, 69-66.
