NICEVILLE, FLA.— Mercer withheld a furious second-half rally by Tennessee State to escape with a 60-59 victory
in the Emerald Coast Classic Friday afternoon at Raider Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State College.
Mercer, which improved to 2-3, had owned a 49-31 lead with 10:42 left following a rebound layup by Jake Davis.
But Tennessee State went on an 18-2 scoring binge to pull within 51-49 with 5:36 remaining after a layup by Kinyon Hodges off his own steal.
A jumper by Jalen Cobb with 1:25 pushed Mercer’s lead to 60-53. Mercer missed the front end of two bonus free throw situations in the final 30.5 seconds that allowed the Tigers to claw to within 60-59 after a basket by Marcus Fitzgerald.
Guard Robby Carmody led Mercer with 15 points off five three-point baskets. Forward Amanze Ngumezi added 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Hodges finished with a game-high 17 points for Tennessee State which fell to 3-2.
Mercer enjoyed its biggest halftime lead of the season at 32-17, collecting 14 points off Tennessee State turnovers.
Mercer outrebounded Tennessee State, 33-22.
Mercer winner will play winner of Western Michigan-Southeastern Louisiana game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
