Bud Thomas, Langston Hall and Travis Smith powered the Mercer Bears past USC-Upstate 72-64 Friday night in front of a raucous crowd at Hawkins Arena on the Mercer campus.

The win puts the Bears in the A-Sun Championship game Saturday at Noon against FGCU.

The teams split during the regular season with each school winning on its home field.

Thomas scored 20 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the field while Hall added 18 points and Smith scored 15.

The Bears hit 14 three point shots with Smith going a perfect 4 for 4 from behind the arc.

The game was close throughout with the Bears finally able to pull away late in the contest.

Mercer improved its record to 15-0 inside Hawkins Arena this season.